Inspire Within

I often wondered if in a quest to modernize ourselves we are letting go of our legacy, our heritage? 

Are we subconsciously abandoning the very thread that binds us all together; our culture!

Wouldn't it be nice if we carried forward the best assets of our centuries of intellect and wisdom that thoughtfully co-exists with our modern views and evolution?

As I try to wrestle my mind out of an inner conflict between embracing the new and not parting with the Indophile in me and strike a balance; I came across the "Kaam Kaaj" collection Ka Sha (Pronounced as K Sh)by Karishma Shahni.

Kaam Kaaj is every bit modern yet Indian. It embodies and personifies the Indianness yet updates it with modern silhouettes.

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha in words by Karishma Shahani

Our Spring Summer 2014 story - ‘Kaam-Kaaj’ juxtaposes work wear of our ‘working classes’, an integral part of our economic eco-system with ritualistic ceremonial wear, an integral part of our social system. Drawing parallels between these two distinct cultural participations – work & celebration, Kaam Kaaj follows the local vendors, fruit sellers, migrant labor workers, house help, and so on. Often romanticized in socialist conversations, is their movement  of clothing through  work and day, their utility based gamchas, their shirt over lehengas, their inners as outers, their work-appropriate  pockets, their cultural influences, their climatic inferences and their regional requirements. ‘Kaam-Kaaj’ is a study of this indigenous part of our society who stand as beacons of cultural india, almost blending tradition with practicality. The focus lies on retaining feminity in a world associated with masculinity. Taking from these ceremonies and their adornment their cultural aesthetic, their symbolism, their textures, their ornamental abundance to this, minimalistic otherside of local work wear. It is a reflection of contrast within ones own life – it fastens together our need for functionality and flamboyance.

Traditional Ajrakh Block printing techniques don the surfaces of a variety of Pure Cottons from Gujarat - Handwoven  Khadis to Powerloom chequered  cottons. The fabrics are dyed and printed using Natural dyes. Hand embroidery and hand carved wooden blocks inspired by checks and florals both - reminiscent of work and play, celebrate the two facets of the lives of everyday people.

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha 

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha

Kaam Kaaj by Ka Sha

Trend alert - Color of the Year -Radiant Orchid

Pantone colour of the year :Radiant Orchid

Caught my eye

At the mall

Street Style Daries Mumbai - Kasmin Fernandes

Happy

Everyday when I read the newspaper, I wonder about the person who gets me all the dope on fashion, and what is he or she like? And then I met Kasmin Fernandes, a name that I had come across often in the fashion columns of a leading paper. Kasmin is a reporter with the Times of India; the go-to girl for fashion inputs for millions and also the girl dancing with gay abandon in the Pharrel Williams- Happy India video!

It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way

Pharrel Williams-Happy

I love the track and the video; it plays on loop on my phone! 

Kasmin let me capture her unique Bohemian-minimalist personality with her eclectic choices, seemingly made by a traveler-at-heart soul. She wears this American Indian, (Navajo) peyote stitch pattern inspired printed tank. She combines it with a pair of palazzo pants in a monochrome Arabesque wallpaper pattern. Her bag is a handcrafted tote with a Japanese floral print and our indigenous kantha(stitchwork). There is a certain hippy vibe to her aided by her carefree curls and the tattoo, at the same time the sans accessories look is so modern minimal.

However for me her most bold sartorial choice of this woman-of-substance is the subtle-sad-clown eye makeup that she sports....

I love the contradictions and within it the harmony.

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Hey, come on...

Hope you are casting your vote today!!!

Kasmin Fernandes

Kasmin Fernandes

Kasmin Fernandes

Street Style Diaries Mumbai- Abhishek Shinde

Marble cocktail

I was pleased to spot Abhishek for his eclectic style with bow-tie and striped pants, confirming another trend that I talked about in my earlier post Upcoming Trends for men, where I talk about Casual meeting Formal in dressing. Its all about mixing it all up and coming up with your own cocktail really, the casual elements, the formal elements, the accessories, the hair and the personality.

Let me break down Abhishek's mix for you. He wears a marble print (a hot print trend for men this summer) shirt in cotton, a leather strap-sport watch, the gladiator sandals in brown leather-the casual elements. The diamond-tip bow-tie in an minimal floral pattern and a pair of trousers in a black-n-white pinstripes cut just above the ankle are the formal elements. With his natural and wavy soft curls hair covering one side of his face almost, and reminds me of Kit Harrington-my current heartthrob from The Game Of Thrones, the cocktail is complete!

Shy but confident, creative but focused, messy but meticulous that's the Marbled Lagoon-a cocktail from Abhishek Shinde.

Abhishek Shinde

 Abhishek Shinde

Abhishek Shinde

Caught my eye

On the street 

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - The lady at the station

New balance between tradition and modernity

I am a sucker for traditional clothing from all cultures. There is something about the traditional clothes one wears, speaking at once to the onlooker about their culture, community, region and much more without an exchange of a single word, its enlightening! In our quest to embrace modernity or to fit/blend in, most of us have let go of this very important individual visual identity and with it the deep history and rich cultural heritage. In a forever-rushed city like Mumbai, traditional attire comes out on occasions and festivals, and therefore a rare sight. I always wonder though if we could adapt our traditional clothes to reach a new balance between tradition and modernity. Clothes that let us be as modern as we'd like to be and yet be identifiable with our rich tradition, clothes that let us blend in and yet stand out!

I was delighted to spot this lady at the station, I'm guessing from a region bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan. She had that balance. I love the colors of her outfit, the combination of polka dots with the fluorescent jacquard lace, who could say she doesn't follow trends! I know that the colorful crochet edging on her stole and through the hemlines on her skirt is all hand-made! I love her bold tattoos, nose-pin, bracelet, so comfortable in her skin.... She poses for me with the inner confidence of a seasoned model, so beautiful!

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Idrees Lone

Trend Confirmation

In the beginning of the year in my post Upcoming trends for men  for this summer, I stressed on how a jacket can have an amazing power to transform a man's look....and this holds true for both casual and formal dressing. I am glad to bring to you a confirmation of this trend with Idrees Lone.

A 2BSB (two button single breast)casual jacket in a tonal tartan plaid in blue/green is what caught my eye on Idrees. He wore this simple grey melange T and a pair of chinos in Cerulean blue, which is as effortless casual as it could get. Add a pair of statement sunglasses and a footwear of choice, and you are good to go. When I noticed Idrees's almost-merging-in-the-carpet shoes, I was impressed with his choice! shoes for a guy with a heart, the classic TOMS that started the one-for-one revolution.

I am a big fan of Blake Mycoskie, of TOMS and the number of lives he has touched and made better. What he has been able to achieve is nothing short of a revolution. You can find more about it here.

It was however the ubiquitous Jhola (sling bag), though a modern version, as a choice that intrigued me. You can't take a Jhola from a journalist!

Idrees Lone is a freelance journalist, both print and media, and hails from Srinagar. He is currently affiliated with a German network and working on issues related to Sustainability.

Idrees Lone

Idrees Lone

Idrees Lone

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Rhea Gupte

Rock chic

There was a certain rockability, a certain boldness that made me turn my head and notice Rhea. She managed to bring together very distinct elements and make it work. The pair of leather shorts, paired with a white cami, aviators in her hand and a peep-toe lace-up platform wedges with black painted toe-nails and bold wig-tipped eyes give out a very rock-chic vibe. At the same time the flowing sheer trail from her brocade jacket, her flowing tresses with bleached-out ends the bligy neckpieces and her metallic clutch with a metal chain strap are elegant and feminine. I have this image in my head of her riding a mean bike with her hair and the trail of her jacket talking to the wind.....fabulous! Rhea gives us a beautiful look that is powerful and elegant in the same breath!

To girl power!!

Rhea Gupte is a fellow blogger much celebrated for her distinct personal style and blogs at FUSS.

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Rhea Gupte

Caught my eye- Trendy handbags

The chic ladies with their trendy handbags at LIFW.

Spotlight Feature : Toteteca - Ladies your search for the perfect bag is over!

My search for a good bag never ends,I trust that all you ladies will agree with me. Even if we find the perfect size, shape the color may not be to our liking, in other cases we love the color, size is just right but the shape may not suit us. Does it all sound familiar my fellow discerning lady friends? 

Well,Ladies your search for the perfect bag is over.

In my search for my perfect bag I came across Toteteca; a great website that would empower you to customize your perfect bag from the latest stylish designs; tailored to your needs (yes shape, size, color, trims)and the best part is the special personalized touch - your initials on it. Does it not sound dreamlike!!

Here's how I got my bag, spoiled for choices in the comfort of my home; just follow the four simple steps to create your very own Toteteca.

Start by visiting www.toteteca.com

Step 1 : Create your Login ID 

Step 2: Select the bag; from a range of clutches, totes, slings, tech accessories and more.

Start designing your bag

Check out the various views for details and a mannequin with the bag for size reference.

Step 3: Customize your bag

I chose a pull-string flap backpack since I travel a lot and the bag comes handy while taking pictures.

On your left start with selecting the details; 

• The Trim color- For someone as decisive as me it was hard yet so much fun to put the colors together for the bag, I feel like a pampered soul 
• Body color-There is metallic too for all the bling lovers
• Fittings- Gold/Silver
• Monogram type- hanging like charms or fixed on the bag
• Additional requests/ideas can be put in under comments.
• Your initials-One of the best features; Nothing says luxury more than your own initials on your bag.

Step 4: Place your order/ Add to cart

And that my ladies is my customized backpack.

Within 7-15 working days you shall receive your customized, monogrammed bag anywhere in the world! That's Toteteca for you....

           TOTETECA – THE HANDBAG LIBRARY

A handbag as any women would reckon is a symbol for many a shade of their personality. So much so that today a handbag isn’t just an additional wardrobe accessory which women use to stock up their daily essentials. The sheer look, the color, the texture of the bag; all individually and collectively speak for the personality of its possessor. Most if not all bags in today’s time are mass manufactured; stylish yes but may not always give one a feeling of exclusivity and individuality. Keeping this thought in mind, Toteteca Bagworks was established as a chic and personal brand in January 2013.  ‘Toteteca’ which literally means The Handbag Library; ‘Tote – A kind of bag’ & ‘Teca – A library’; is an Indian e-commerce venture established under the parent company Veda Lifestyle.

Toteteca Bagworks allows its users to choose from its huge library; where shoppers can select and customize their handbags to suit their individual needs. It also makes the shoppers experience fun as they browse the website selecting from a variety of shapes and colors leading on to make a desirable handbag. All customization is visualized on their website and their team of designers is happy to answer any queries about styling choices. Bringing in Veda Lifestyle’s expertise in custom-made bags, with their team of select craftsmen every product at Toteteca is made from scratch. The most unique part of the Toteteca experience is that it allows the user to monogram the bag with one’s initials either via a hanging tag that’s removable or stitching it into the lining.

Priced between Rs. 900 & Rs. 3400, and available in about 50 styles (with a couple of styles that are developed and added every week) Toteteca Bagworks, is your answer to that show-stopping Handbag! All the bags are freshly made and buyers get them straight from our workshop right to their doorstep, worldwide shipping included. If through the process one feels unsure about how the bag might end up looking in person, Toteteca also has a team of select designers to make that decision process absolutely error proof.

Speaking on the intent behind the establishment of Toteteca, Kushal Chudiwala, Director Veda Lifestyle & Founder Toteteca Bag Works says, “Everybody, I mean everybody has seen a bag and wanted it in another color. Say in a purple and grey to go with your new outfit, instead of the red and black they have at the counter? That’s human nature, ‘To each; his own.’ We at Toteteca want to change how women in India shop for their handbags. We intend to replace large logos with actual individual brand identity and the true expression of style.”

Toteteca is a combination of two words, tote and teca. Tote is a type of handbag and teca literally means library in Latin - See more at: http://toteteca.com/cms_page.php?page_id=2#sthash.l7tZ1uaa.dpuf

Toteteca is a combination of two words, tote and teca. Tote is a type of handbag and teca literally means library in Latin - See more at: http://toteteca.com/cms_page.php?page_id=2#sthash.l7tZ1uaa.dpuf

Website: www.toteteca.com

Facebook Like! www.facebook.com/toteteca

Follow their updates on Twitter @totetecabagwork

See all their creations on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/toteteca

Follow them on Instagram: @toteteca

Street Style Diaries Mumbai - Shadaab

The hip-hop sporty flavor

Mumbai is getting hot, especially during the day like most of India at this point. A white linen shirt to beat the heat is a summer-must-have. Shadaab impresses me with the way he styles his shirt and the inspired hip-hop/sporty flavor he adds with the baseball cap. 

He pairs his white linen shirt with a kurta-opening and a granddad collar with a washed khaki chinos. With the hems rolled-up and a pair of leather-trimmed suspenders hanging loose make the chinos cool! A pair of perforated leather boat shoes in white, orange sports watch and a black baseball cap complete his street-sporty look. A mustache pendant on a chain, a popular unisex neck accessory, complements his well trimmed facial mo-beard style.

Shadaab