The Essence Of Fashion – BENGALURU
There’s the new breed of fashionistas in Bengaluru – vibrant, snazzy and oh! so vocal about their love for fashion and all that it entails. For them, there is much more to fashion than just the clothes they wear.Their careers, their attitude, their style and their exposure take them a notch above those who blindly follow trends and dress for the moment.Meet six of the city’s lovely ladies who understand and don’t shy away from telling the world that there’s more to fashion than meets the eye.
SHRUTI CHOUDHRI
Director, Soul Space Projects Limited and Principal
Architect, Chrysalis Design Studio
Born into a construction family with strong entrepreneurship roots, the passion for buildings ran literally in her blood. “I grew up in an atmosphere rich with art, design and culture, thanks to my artist mother. Finding a balance between the building and art sides of my personality led me towards architecture,” explains Shruti.She completed her architecture, landscape architecture and art degree from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Sushant School of Art & Architecture, New Delhi. After practicing architecture for a while the entrepreneur in her kicked in and in 2003 after her move to Bengaluru, she started her first real estate development company at the age of 23.Currently director at Soul Space Projects, her company develops malls and residential projects all designed in-house. “Carrying forward my passion for design, in 2010, I started my architecture practice-Chrysalis Design Studio (it is an entirely women-run enterprise). Keeping the entrepreneur in me going and giving wings to my passion for fitness, I have partnered with fitness professionals to open India’s first Hyper Gym, The Hood in Bengaluru.
TINA SAREEN
Founder of Label – LBD
What you wear is a reflection of your personality but one should never take fashion so seriously that they stop having fun, is what Tina thinks. “I have always paid a lot of attention to design detail of any sort. I am drawn towards things that are simple and beautiful with a story to tell. On returning from Melbourne and London after my studies, I was keen to bridge the gap between high street and designer fashion in India by introducing a bespoke European line of clothing which is more design centric versus brand centric. I am hoping to change set ideas that women in India have towards the way they dress, to add value to their wardrobes, to dress for themselves and to express through their clothes,” explains the stylish lady.She feels that through travel one is exposed to various cultures, art, street fashion and food. “Your wardrobe is a melting pot of your experiences, your travels and of different phases of your life which have made you who you are!”
DIVYA NICHANI
Founder of Puraw Vida
Divya is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher from the Ramamani Iyengar Yoga Institute Pune and also a raw vegan associate chef from the world’s premier raw culinary school Living Light, in California, and dons the hat of a pastry chef, associate chef and instructor and is also certified in the science of raw food nutrition.In her journey of teaching yoga she realised that not just yoga but a combination of raw/ vegan foods and plant based foods could help people to heal emotionally and physically .She is very passionate about everything she does and firmly believes that learning is a life long process . As the mother of an eight-year-old, she is very conscious about the need for mindfulness and healthy living.Currently she holds yoga classes / workshops and raw vegan demos for kids and adults.She encourages people to experience for themselves the health and happiness the practice of yoga can bring. Her teachings anchor awareness in an ever more fragmented world, to help students stay connected to their true selves, through their bodies, minds and spirits.
KAVYA MADAPPA
Entrepreneur, Managing Director,
Amanvana Spa Resort, Coorg
‘Amanvana, the rabbit hole for the soul,’ was inspired by the beautiful river Kaveri that flows by the edge of its property.The inspiration was to enhance the beauty of an already beautiful place.Amanvana was created with an idea to help Kavya’s guests return to the essentials of life. “I quit my job working in an insurance company in Bengaluru and decided that I want to create something meaningful in this splendid location. Amanvana is 6 years old now and has had over 75,000 happy guests who are our support and our biggest inspiration to keep up our standards and create novel experiences; such as the eight island trek, four hand antistress massage with organic coffee scrubs to name a few.” The resort is created on straight clean lines with simple textures, colourful patterns and with over 300 species of flora and fauna woven in to create a serene atmosphere that is unforgettable. It is home to 42 species of birds with their numbers growing every year. The gurgling river Kaveri adds her charm to it all. “It has been the most satisfying experience to step out of my comfort zone and to trust my instincts,” tells this enthusiastic entrepreneur. Amanvana, a rabbit hole for the soul, is the outcome of it all!
PALLAVI FOLEY
Jewellery Designer
Creative visionary is a word synonymous with Pallavi, one of India’s leading jewellery designers, who is known for her innovation of avant-garde jewellery pieces and international award winning jewels. She graduated as an accessories designer from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi in 2000, and then worked for nine and a half years for Tanishq. Today, she creates her hand-crafted sculptural jewels, in rich 18 carat gold, in her studio and boutique in Bengaluru. Apart from having her own jewellery boutique, she also works as a design consultant to many Indian and International jewellery brands.Her remarkable ability to think out of the box has created many a masterpiece for she believes her work to be more than art. Pallavi says, “After conceptualising a design idea, it’s all about design detailing; there is as much science in a piece of jewellery as there is in art.” This ability has also encouraged traditional craftsmen to enhance and explore their skills with her design sensibilities.Pallavi’s foray into jewellery design is much like an artist’s journey, which is how she looks at it. One look at each of her designs tells us that her mind travels a road of rediscovery to use traditional Indian jewellery-making techniques very differently while pushing the envelope of design.Her profile speaks volumes in terms of quality of achievement. She has received numerous national and international design awards in jewellery design. With awards flowing her way, her shows are undoubtedly the most sought after in the fashion world.
SARAYU HEGDE
Fashion enthusiast, curator and founder of The Bombay Attic
Located in the heart of the city, the charming heritage space with its eclectic boho interiors offers a platform for the most promising talent in Indian fashion and design.Although her educational background was in food (Bachelors in Hotel Management ) her lifelong dream has always been to be a part of the fashion industry.“When I moved to Bengaluru from Mumbai three years ago, I wanted to curate a space for ready to wear affordable designer clothing with new talent from around India. We’ve introduced many promising designers to Bengaluru and in our one year of eventful existence we’ve had the opportunity to host trunk shows with some of India’s biggest names in the fashion scene,” tells the enthusiastic fashionista.“Travel is a big part of my job and I’ve discovered some of the best finds for my store at the most unexpected places. I also love to see how people from each city or country interpret world fashion trends with local sensibility. I wanted to create a space which was not just about the product we sell but an experience.”
