Hearts, Korean pop stars, Jil Sander, and shoes

Childhood/growing up.
My childhood was pretty boring. Boarding school in the hills, blah blah blah. Last two years of high school I studied science(big mistake, huuuuge) then some God sent career counsellor guided me to the right path and here I am!!

First job…a part-time job at a call centre called GE while I was still in university. I got paid Rs. 7000 a month for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. It was pretty cool back in 2002.

A regular working day..
I don’t have a regular day. One day I could be running around like a headless chicken sourcing, or getting sunburned at some location, shooting, or just staring at the computer the whole day in my office.

A non-working day..
As boring as it sounds, l sleep mostly when I’m not working, or I hang with my dog, or go to the spa.

What inspires you and keeps you going?
There is no particular person or a thing that inspires me but to see all these amazing creative talents do amazing work in their respective fields really makes me want to do a better job at what I do. I love fashion. I enjoy beautiful clothes, feeling the fabrics, & admiring the workmanship. For me, amazing fashion on the streets, and to see a beautiful show is a wonderful experience, and hugely inspiring. In life, I think a mix of me, my friends, my job, and my dad, keeps me going.

You like? Hearts, Jil Sander, bright colours, Facebook, a good laugh, spring, Wearabout (and I’m not just saying it), dressing well, holding hands(strictly with lovers only), NYMag, Naga Cuisine, getting photographed, Modern Family, and a lot more things that I can’t think of right now.

and don’t like? Bad shoes, gate crashers, smelly feet, Delhi summers, Holi, Fat.

and absolutely LOVE? Korean pop stars, my Dad, my dog Baci, Lanvin, shoes, sushi, Abbey Lee Kershaw, French Vogue, Tim Walker, my job, youtube, my wonderful friends, travelling, fashion, my wonderful maid who sorts out my life everyday, my wonderful roomies who make life so much more wonderful, www.00o00.blogspot.com, and umm..did I mention shoes??

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Edward Lalrempuia, 28. Fashion Editor|Vogue India.

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Louise Lavabre for FCUK

Louise is a photojournalist and a writer. (check her recently updated travel blog here). She turned 24 on the 1st of this December and spent half of her birthday on the plane way back to France. Thinks birthday are only cool if you are a kid with lots of friends and doesn’t like them anymore.

Childhood
I grew up in the suburbs of Paris in a city called St Leu la Forêt(which literally means Saint wolf of the forest implying there were once wolves in Europe..next to Paris)..half an hour away by train from the capital city. My city was small, only 15 000 inhabitants, and was quite ugly, but I liked it. I had my friends there. We would go to the high school or next town by bikes and local buses, have house parties, smoke weed in the forest near my house (we even built a really cool cabin and would make fire there). I am the eldest child of a 4 girls family, so my childhood was also really centered around family. I remember arguing with my sister about her or me “stealing friends” or my make up, or even my place as the first kid since she looked older and taller than me. But all in all, we got along really well.
As a teenager I started getting bored of hanging around, doing the same old things, seeing the same old faces just a bit grayed by new beard, being both part and subject of all that countryside like gossip, I moved to Paris at 17 after finishing my high school degree.

What did you study after moving to Paris and what do you do now?
I studied Political Science : Philosophy, Economics, History, and Law mainly. In France, my university is a pretty good way to enter the media…and that’s what I wanted.
Now? I don’t know. I am trying to do many things, but you know, we say you tend to lose yourself trying to do too many things. So I..I travel a lot. I take photographs as much as I can. I care a lot about my relationships, with friends, family, love…I try to keep some time to write or talk or see those I love. Ahhh interviews always make you look stupid!

What excites & inspires you in life?
I guess answer to this is in my last answer. I try to do what inspires me I suppose. So traveling for sure, meeting people. Images more than sound (probably why I chose photos over recording). Reading. Well I guess all those are forms of traveling, experiencing the unknown, breaking the frontiers of what your life consists of, meeting something new and different. So it can be a physical travel, or it can be through a movie, a book, an incredible person you spent 24 hours with… many things.

Countries you have travelled to?
I have seen a lot of Asia. Well, this is not quite true. To be exact I went to a lot of Asian countries, but this doesn’t mean I have seen that much of them. Younger..I used to be this kind of a backpacker who was more thrilled by the simple idea of being on the road no matter where but now it is about actually seeing and feeling a place which requires time. And younger I had no time. Just wanted to see a lot and tell about it. So all in all, I have been to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, India, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Ghana, Kenya. All around Europe obviously since that’s where I come from. Canada and the US.

Why do you feel the need to travel?
The experience of traveling is linked to many things : the person you travel with (a friend, several friends, family, a lover, or simply yourself), the time you spend there, the season you are there (as depending on the season locals have a different approach to tourists), the landscapes, the culture, the hospitality of people…and those elements will count more or less according to the country you are in. A travel is an equation. Sometimes this equation is perfect. But now as I am thinking about it, all my travels have been perfect because the equation has always been surprising. A travel never looks like what you expected from it. Contrary to a party or studies, not fitting your expectations is never synonymous with disappointment.
I think I always feel the need to travel more because the more I travel the harder it is to impress my traveler’s eyes. As I said earlier, younger I wanted to see, now, and I know this sounds a little pretentious, I want to feel and document.

Traveling preferences and places you’d like to go to…
I prefer traveling to mountains rather than sea. First because I think the sea kinda looks the same everywhere. Then also because I think mountain landscapes & climate are more rough, more intense than a sea-side and that makes the living conditions there more rough…which I find interesting. And photographically, again, mountains are more fascinating. The light, the colours, the faces, the clothes, the fact that you don’t know what lies beyond the next curve….
I really want to go to Iran, Afghanistan and Ladakh. I loved middle-east. I loved Asia. I am very curious to see the countries in between.

What places did you visit in India and what did you like the most?
Well the initial plan was to go to Ladakh and trek in the Himalayas. But everybody (you too!) told me it was absolutely not the season ’cause of the early winter and the blocked roads so I flew to Trivandrum and came to Bombay via Kerala and Goa. I really liked Munnar(faces of the people seemed so different), Fort Kochi, Panajim (up in the town the atmosphere is totally different) and Mumbai!!
As a general concern, I really liked women. There’s something I noticed over my travels..there is a strange and beautiful complicity between the women of the world. As if we were sharing a secret. I love to have this confirmation each time I enter a bus, a train station, a market, or while strolling on the streets of a city.

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Below, Louise is in her favorite shirt…Got Milk?

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The post-it on the wall reads “forstarkare. kontakt. uttag” which means “amplifier. contact. sockets.” I’ve been trying to learn Swedish for a year.

Tailored biomechanics

An interview with Ruchika Sachdeva.

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Shoes – Vivienne Westwood. Trousers – own design. Bag – Vintage, Porto Bello, London. Tee – Zara

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Making a living out of dressing up

I always wanted to dress well, but never thought I’d take fashion up as a profession until I got out of school. At school, I studied Commerce & Business. I took up fashion because I could connect to it on a very personal level. I wanted to be able to design my own clothes and earn a living.

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Studying and being free

I graduated from London College of Fashion after a year of studying at Pearl Academy of Fashion. My stay in London taught me a lot because it was my first time living alone. The freedom and independence added to the experience and made it brilliant.

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On the streets

For many years people in London used fashion as a tool to revolt in regard to sub-cultures such as punk and mod. Street style there touches another level altogether. Street fashion in India is all mixed up because of the various influences I guess. I specially admire the way people from the north-east carry themselves. I feel, now, people are experimenting and taking fashion more seriously than before.

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Generation next

Lakme Fashion Week was a step forward. I sent in my graduating collection for the ‘Gen-next’ category and got selected. I am glad I got through as it gave me a bigger platform and a lot of exposure.

Collection

The collection is called Biomechanics.

I explored the relationship shared between human beings and machines and incorporated the findings in my designs. The collection is futuristic and androgynous, emphasizing on – structure, tailoring and ornamentation. I also took inspiration from the strong, machine like, warrior subjects in H.R.Giger‘s paintings.

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Post fashion week

I am now working on the orders. The creative part of having a design label comes naturally, but the business part of it – which is all numbers, taxation, and costing – takes a lot more effort.

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Additional information

I like Junya Watanabe, Martin margiela, Dries Van Noten, Alber Albaz for Lanvin, Marithe & Francois Girbaud, The Doors, Moby, Radiohead, Eddie Vedder, Beatles, & Sinatra.

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Edited & re-edited by Megha Ramesh.

Color Nymph by Neha Verma

About two months ago, Neha contacted me here on this blog, linking me to her collection on Facebook. Two weeks ago, she invited me for her first collection showcase at Out of the Blue in Bandra. I reached just in time to get a few decent photos of people who walked in, bought something, and agreed to pose. Here is an introduction to all.

Neha with a degree in Mass Media, worked as a production help, an assistant director, a freelance stylist, before finally starting her own line of clothing for women.

“I got into designing clothes because I could never find what I liked and whatever I liked would be so exorbitantly priced that I could not afford to buy it! If I’m buying a garment, I’d like it to be unique, have some character to it, in good quality fabric, well-stitched, and not unjustifiably priced. That is exactly what I’m trying to do with my first collection of Color Nymph.”

“I started off by displaying photos on Facebook and taking orders from friends. Then I moved on to exhibiting in order to reach out to a bigger market. I like that many people are shedding their inhibitions, dressing the way they want, and those people are my ideal customers.”

Shreya, 25. Fashion Designer. Was passing by.

“Color nymph is for woman who is effortlessly beautiful, confident, versatile and naughty.
 Color Nymph isn’t about making everyone look the same, instead, it is about encouraging the individual to mix the old and the new, each in their own distinctive personal ways. Color Nymph is mainly Indo fusion wear.”

Jessica, 25. Flies with Jet Airways. Heard about the exhibition via FB.

“There are dresses, kurtis, jackets, shrugs, wrappers, shift dresses, belts and bags. The fabric used is cotton, ideal for our climate. The price range is from 500 to 2500Rs., so there is something for everyone. I also customize traditional Indian wear, casual wear & Western wear.”

Shai Samtaney,26. Director. Heard about the exhibition via FB.

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“My experience at Out of the Blue was mind blowing! I chose this place, because a friend of mine had setup her shop here not so long ago. I’d gone by to visit and liked the vibe of the place. Also, the cheesecake here is yummm!”

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To rent out this space, contact the lovely Michelle at – Out of the Blue. Renting for 12 hours costs about 4k.
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You could like her page here.

Contact – neha.v.86@gmail.com

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Interview with a NEXT designer.

So when Nikhil, my senior from NIFT, stayed over at my apartment for a day, we talked. I felt whatever he was telling me would make for a decent read if turned into an interview of sorts. So here it is. It’s late. I’m late..but better late than hungry. I hope it helps some students, designers, drifters, and occasional pilgrims.

Nikhil Sharma,27. Designer at NEXT, London.

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How did you get interested in becoming a fashion designer?

I always wanted to do something creative though designing clothes was not on my mind when I was 16. I wanted to be an architect. I also did a short three month course to get into a good architecture school. For sometime I was only trying to get through a good university regardless of “what creative art it specialized in”. I applied to NIFT(National institute of Fashion Technology), got through, and then I thought, “why not design clothes for a living?”

Work life after NIFT?
I was suddenly thrown into the domestic mass market casual wear segment. It seemed very different from what I aspired it to be but then when you graduate, getting a job and being independent is what seems to be the most important thing. I worked for almost 20 months(Proline) but then I knew I had to venture out and get more exposure.

How was industry different from what you perceived it to be once you graduated?
When you are in college you can create just about anything, you can stretch your imagination, experiment without a market/costs/profit sheets but once you start working, you realize how it gets extremely focused in approach and creation. It is a part of the process which everyone adapts to differently and individually.

Many NIFT graduates were going to NTU(Nottingham Trent University) after NIFT, almost like a trend. Why did you choose NTU?
I did not want to do an undergrad course in London and for Masters they wanted me to have a little more experience than what I had. While at NTU, I was getting to do a Masters course and the standard of living there was considerably cheaper than London.

Your days at NTU.
Masters at NTU was unique in itself as it provided freedom to each individual. It involved a lot of self study & research. Every student had a different subject he/she wanted to do a research on with different processes/mediums/tools so it was very different from what I had learnt during my UG at NIFT. For me, different people from all over the world, coming together on a common platform for a research based course, was a wonderful experience, worth every penny and minute. Also, I worked in a bar to cover my living expenses so it was an intense year of study and work. It made me quite independent and self-driven.

Days post NTU.
I worked for a brand called Chilli Pepper. I relocated to a small town near Birmingham called Redditch. I did not know a single soul in that town (it was a different life as all social joints would shut by 6p.m. and the entire town was ruled by one cinema and a nightclub). So I would spend my week in the town working and heading off to London for my weekends. It was quite an interesting experience but I wouldn’t ever shift to a small town again. I thrive on a city like London which is energy in its maximum form. I find it inspiring to live in a city where mind just doesn’t stop ever….where inspiration is right at my door step.

Work permit issues, back to India. Work visa application, back to London.
Due to work permit issues, I decided to return than just wait around endlessly for the government to respond in my favor. I got back to Bangalore as I had a strong base there and worked for about a year. Applying for work visa was a big gamble as I applied for a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa which normally is not given to design professionals. The whole process was quite tedious and difficult I must admit. It took about eight months for the papers to get processed. Finally I got a three year work permit.

So all glossy after getting the work visa?
On getting the visa I instantly quit my job. I had a few contacts in London but they were just consultants/agencies so actually I did not have a job when I took off for London. I went with 40 kilo luggage. I was going to stay rent free with a couple of friends till I found a job. My parents were supportive though deep down inside they were concerned about how I just took off, leaving everything behind.

Approaching agencies, consultants, freelancing & the sweet struggle.
For three months in London I was only applying for jobs. I sent out about fifty emails everyday and called consultants/agencies (very seldom one approaches companies directly in London for design opportunities). Everyday was just a wait spent in the hope of getting a job interview at least. The timing was bad! Recession was at its deepest low. My (our) dear friend Divya Raman graciously allowed me stay with her for three months without any rent. If not for her, I would have just come back in a month’s time. Subsequently, I started getting some freelance work and had a few interviews which went really well. The recession took it easy on me and thereafter things only got better. I got a job at this company called Poetic Gem based in Watford. I worked there for six months. It was quite a trek to get up there every single day. I had to sit in a train for an hour and walk 15 minutes from station to work both ways. So commuting was quite tiring but I had a proper salary job which was something to be happy about.

You got a job at NEXT.
On a cold January night, I got a phone call with the news. It was so vague. Everything was a big blur till next morning. I got through NEXT (NSL,London). It was absolutely one of the proudest moments of my life to have made it through. I had three rounds of interviews and had to do a project for them to finally select me.

Life at NEXT.
I get a budget at the beginning of the year with which I can shop samples and do inspiration trips according to my choice. My territory is Sri Lanka so all my samples get made there. There is a lot of freedom in this job. It is almost like handling my own business. Whatever product I feel needs to be there in the store I sample it and send it to the buyer. So it is a very design oriented role with great exposure, independence and lots and lots of travel!

Next after NEXT?
I don’t know what is in store for me but eventually I do want to have my own thing going on. I would be happy with maybe a small quirky shop selling printed tees, and pop-art based stuff, with a nice garden cafe.

What do you think about this blog?
Fashion blogs, trend websites – all these make a lot of difference in the creative world. It would be nice to see a trend forecasting company like WGSN, Stylesight, or Trendstop bloom from India. A blog like this is quite international in its feel and can appeal to audience all over the world. With many brands now opening their retail outlets in India, it would be great to have a website which tells one about the Indian fashion scene. The blog actually made me sit back and say, “Hang on! There are a lot of people who dress so cool!!” It helped me absorb the fashion scene back here in India.

What’s in your refrigerator right now?

It is a good day to ask me this as I just went and bought my groceries. I got some artichokes and halloumi cheese, smoked salmon, yogurt, beans, two ready to eat packages of mushroom risotto and Spanish paella, milk-mustard and some caramel custard.