A few years ago, I homed in on the explanation, howsoever simplified, of the recent spate of wars in the middle east. A closet Buddhist for more years than not, I decided to swap out my C Class for a Prius and stop consuming as much fuel. And as we have all experienced in meditation, one small step can set off a series of small unnoticeable changes leading to a larger transformation.
My penchant for home redesign began the same way. My day job of capturing a customer’s journey and my own obsession with living fully and authentically helped me apply design criteria to the human experience of interior space, acknowledge the importance of human meaning in the context of living space. In modern parlance or design concept, it is called the aesthetic of narrative.
Holding Space is, however, a very powerful concept. It means you are already here, everything is just waiting for you to arrive. It is the feeling one gets when looking at a living room for instance and believing every armchair, every lounge, is taken by people we are aware will be joining us soon. Through my two recent remodels, I am hoping to take you on that journey with me.
The first remodel involved a breaking down of the apartment style and giving it a loft feel. It largely centered around the kitchen which is often the first space we encounter in condominiums.
The other main element I addressed was the flow. Bamboo flooring throughout delivered the result of space and continuity.
I strongly believe that if the remodel is based on a good foundation of design, you have a lot of room to get creative without making it complicated. Lighting is very key to design. It’s always good to have a mix of natural and artificial lighting and something not too harsh. This is something my son reminded me again and again and it is something I addressed in my second redesign.
The kitchen has spot-lights which work well for a small space. The simplistic chandelier of chrome bulbs bunched together and a mid-century arco lamp brings pop to the living room. But it’s in the bedroom that lighting really worked its magic. Fabric shaded mid-century aspired bedside lamps, whose glow is enhanced by the mirrors, transform and give a surreal feel to the room.
The last and final element I wish to touch upon in this redesign is the use of texture. The pure wool flat-rugs, the fabric upholstery as opposed to leather, and the extensive use of linen for the drapes and dressing up the bed, all belie a drive to keep the place allergen free and breathable. Linen, by the way, has been so valued since time immemorial that mothers hand it down generations.
Going over the edge is something we should all try, especially in design. The homeowner is a poet mother and her young photographer son. The art, therefore, reflects this difference. In line with the textural vibe, a beautiful wall mural of rags painted over and over in a mauve shade by the artist exhibits infinite mystery in the dining hall. The living room is powered by an artfully installed 1786 map of Paris.
A LITTLE BIT OF…
The second remodel is French contemporary. In my view, it needs no description because it comes so naturally to me but I have highlighted a few key elements which hold this redesign in place.
‘Crewelwork’ grew very popular in the middle 16th century when steel needles became cheaper. It has had its origins in designs and embroidery in two-ply wool in Persia (Iran and Iraq), France and England. The stitches used in crewel work are not exclusively crewel though. They are commonplace embroidery stitches in wool. Crewelwork saw a revival in the US in the sixties with the back to nature movement. I had been looking for contemporary crewelwork cushions for a while and the ones I found are what motivated this simple redesign.
A French illustrations calendar from Boddington’s studio titled ‘Criminel du Monde’ was the second collector’s item which in addition to its color palette, was also ripe for a diptych. The crewel pillows and the calendar art are of the contemporary Pantone color matching system which made it easy to coordinate.
The new Indigo blue upholstered dining chairs styled by the Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for VITRA, co-ordinated with a barstool in blush show up well with the loved-up Nicole Miller natural linen chesterfield. Throwing a linen bench cushion over the Amici bench resulted in a nouveau icon.
What I found remarkable about this remodel was that like a rising tide lifting all boats, many design minds from across the time and space speak a common language, are similarly moved or inspired. It is very hard to go wrong in a project where you are willing to collaborate with others.
Ronan and Erwan are brothers and designers based in Paris. In 1997, and were spotted by Cappellini, giving them their first industrial design projects. Since then, they have gone on to work with Artek, Alessi, Axor Hansgrohe, Cappellini, Established & Sons, Flos, Hay, Kettal, Kvadrat, Kartell, Glas Italia, Ligne Roset, Magis, Iittala, Mattiazzi, Mutina, Nani Marquina, Samsung and Vitra.”
Finding something precious quite by chance is what Gae Aulenti’s coffee table named ‘Under the sky’ is. Aulenti worked in the post-war period of Italy, creating pieces that spanned across a wide variety of styles and influences. She wanted the focus of the room to be the occupants, believing people make the room a room. She had a modest style and her “advice to whoever asks me how to make a home is to not have anything, just a few shelves for books, some pillows to sit on. And then, to take a stand against the ephemeral, against passing trends…and to return to lasting values.
Alveena Bakhshi uses narrative as design home interiors. Born to an army colonel and civil engineer, and a design-forward mother, she has been inspired not only by their travels but also very compelling memories of her Indian summers in ancestral homes in Patiala and Gurdaspur in Northern India. In New York since 9/11, Alveena first published ‘Shot to Make Look Good’ as a poetical homage to child soldiers in 2016 and advocates for the reintegration of girl child soldiers including by supporting projects like ‘Make Home Home Again’ Alveena is a public policy graduate of Columbia University and a management professional. You can follow her on Instagram.
January 27, 2023February 1, 2023 2min readBy Sandeep Panesar
The results are in — the Pantone Color for 2023 is here — and it looks like Viva Magenta will be ruling runways, the streets, and (even) your wardrobes.
Viva Magenta is a deep shade of red, and Pantone describes it:
Brave and fearless.
It’s meant to be celebratory, and joyous, and encourage experimentation. If you were thinking of toning it down a notch with your wardrobe in 2023, it’s time to think again. It can really be your time to shine in something bright and colorful!
Aprajit Toor, Arpita Mehta, and Rahul Khanna break it down for you — what to wear, how to pair, and everything in between. Their takes on the Pantone Color for 2023 are simple but they’ll help you make a bold statement anywhere you go!
Take a look at what they have to say.
Rahul Khanna of Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna:
Viva Magenta is a color that suits all skin tones. It’s a color for all occasions; women and men can both wear this color with [the] right styling. Cocktail saris, jumpsuits, and reception gowns are some great options for women whereas, for men, the color has started picking up a lot lately. Men have started experimenting with their looks and we as designers have more options for men as well. Recently, we made a custom-made silk velvet fit for Ranveer Singh in the same color. Apart from your everyday clothing, Viva Magenta is also going to be the ruling shade for the upcoming wedding season.
The best way to do Viva Magenta in your everyday wardrobe is to go top to bottom in [it]. Be it in co-ord sets or a kaftan or any comfortable outfit. It’s such a bold & beautiful color that it looks the best when it’s self on self rather than teaming it up or breaking it with another color.
Aprajita Toor:
Viva Magenta is a very powerful and empowering color that descends from the red family. It is an animated red that encourages experimentation and self-expression without restraint; an electrifying shade [that] challenges boundaries. One can easily incorporate this color by picking a statement footwear, bag, or jewelry in Viva Magenta which can be paired with neutral or monotone colored outfits.
And there you have it — three ways you can easily take a vibrant hue and turn it into something you can wear every day. Take cues from these top designers on how to wear the Pantone Color of the year and get started! We’d love to see how you style Viva Magenta!
Ever since we can recall, the Cannes Film Festival has been a merger of movies and glamour. On one side, there are hand-picked films — ready to premiere and make their mark in the world of entertainment — and on the other, audiences and paparazzi alike are served epic moments in fashion.
The festival, aimed to preview upcoming films from all over the world, invites a wide variety of guests that span the film fraternity, of course, but more recently, has opened its doors to many digital content creators, including renowned South Asian creatives.
With a more vast guest list comes a more recent debate: Cannes is a film festival and not a fashion showcase. Kickstarting the debate this year was none other than ace Bollywood director, Nandita Das, who in an Instagram post shared:
Sometimes people seem to forget that it is a festival of films and not of clothes!
In short, Das wants Cannes’ narrative to continue to focus on films.
But of course, there’s been a paradigm shift in the guest list over the last few years; this shift has allowed talents from various industries — including lifestyle content creators, entrepreneurs, etc., who showcase their work in fashion and beauty like fine masterstrokes — to walk the carpet and represent their craft, making space for others in their industry.
Influential names like Dolly Singh, Kaushal, Diipa Buller-Khosla, and Shivani Bafna — all of whom made a raging impact on the red carpet this year — weigh in on the significance of representing South Asian artists/influencers on the red carpet, and how they feel they’ve been part of this paradigm shift at Cannes Film Festival.
Diipa Buller-Khosla
I believe that each step we take at events like Cannes sends a powerful message of diversity, cultural richness, and artistic excellence. Representation matters, and the presence of South Asian creators on the red carpet at Cannes helps broaden the narrative of beauty, talent, and creativity. It allows us to showcase our unique perspectives, narratives, and contributions, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive industry. By actively participating and making our presence felt, we help create more opportunities and spaces for South Asian creators, encouraging others to share their stories with the world.
Since 2015, the first time I walked the red carpet, till this year I have always been invited by L’Oreal Paris, one of the main sponsors of the event. It has always been such an honor to be invited to the festival through the makeup brand that I have been using for almost two decades, and, before my social media career began. Personally, I feel a sense of acknowledgment from such a prestigious brand, and its head office teams that sponsor Cannes Film Festival, and value the work I have done and continue to do as a South Asian content creator within the beauty space. Makeup, hair, and beauty will always play a big role within the film industry and it’s something I have always created my content around which is why I am proud to attend.
This is a proud moment not just for me but also [for] my peers and the entire content creator ecosystem given that we have reached such new global stages and presence. Of course, as you said, such film festivals, once considered as an exclusive hub for a congregation of the finest acting talents have, in the last few years, opened their arms to more people from the entertainment industry.
This is not just a sudden phenomenon with a burst of Indian creators at the festival this year but there is increased participation from non-film and non-South Asian celebrities across various spectrums from different sides of the world. Along with the many filmmakers, actors, producers, etc I also met some amazing influencers and entrepreneurs from other sides of the world. It’s amazing to represent India and celebrate and champion the advent of the digital ecosphere on such a prominent platform.
The confluence of actors and creators signified the amalgamation of traditional cinema and new-age digital influence, highlighting the transformative power of creative expression and how festivals like Cannes have become more forthcoming and progressive in their approach.
Cannes, like any other prominent festival, boasts of a red carpet that is synonymous with fashion and glitz, and I wanted to use this opportunity to represent all the amazing Indian fashion designers on the carpet besides, of course, attending the screenings. As someone who is just not an influencer but also an actress, I thoroughly enjoyed all the red-carpet screenings and meeting like-minded film talent from around the world at the event. At some point in the future, I would like to be attending Cannes for a film I’ve featured in.
Creators are often placed into boxes of where they belong and the rooms they can be a part of. Being on the red carpet dismantles the ideology that there’s a cap on how far we, as creators and as a South Asian community, can go and what we can achieve.
The Cannes Film Festival has always been viewed as the epitome of a glamorous event — everyone who attends looks like they’re living their best lives. I used the platform to share an authentic message of what the experience felt like for me. To represent all of us who doubt our potential, experience imposter syndrome, and are nervous to find their place, yet continue to push through to achieve their dreams!
As the first Indian American influencer to walk at Cannes, I hope I can inspire young women to confidently ask, ‘Why not me?’
There’s no doubt that the Cannes Film Festival is centered around films, and continues to be a unique space for the global film fraternity to bring their art and showcase their aptitude. But, creators like Bafna, Singh, Buller-Khosla, and Kaushal — a special shoutout to Raja Kumari for being instrumental in paving the way as well — have their own set of responsibilities to fulfill upon their invitation to the prestigious event. Their will to represent their South Asian identities, celebrate their industries, and continue to hold space for their peers makes their presence at Cannes more than just clothes.
All images in the featured photo are from the influencers’ Instagram feeds.
Holistic beauty trends are more prevalent than ever — that makes ayurvedic beauty brands incredibly sought-after, as well. Do you find yourself asking what your beauty products are actually made of? A lot of us even resort to food products for a skincare routine such as honey for face wash.
The term “Ayurvedic Beauty” is getting more recognition outside the South Asian world as well.
Ayurvedic beauty is coined upon the term “Ayurveda,” which originated in Hindu culture as the basis of utilizing the five life forms — air, water, ether, fire, and earth — to heal the human body.
Ayurvedic beauty brands focus on using herbs and natural ingredients to create their skincare range and consumers around the world are attracted to these natural products.
Scroll down to see some Ayurvedic beauty brands founded by South Asians.
Is your skin feeling a little dry this winter? Nourishing your skin with body oil will lend it the right amount of moisture — Soma Ayurvedic’s jasmine body oil can do that trick! Shop the oil, and their full line of products, here.
If you’re familiar with author and podcast Host, Jay Shetty, then you may have heard of his tea line, Sama Tea. Herbal teas provide many natural benefits. Has it been a stressful week? Try their lavender rose chamomile tea for some TLC. Check them out here.
Know the Netflix show “Ginny & Georgia?” Loved the actress’ fresh-looking skin? Sahajan Skincare is behind that glow! They’re a must-try, featured in both Vogue and Elle India. See their full range of products here.
This unique company showcases its brand with an emphasis on ‘holistic.’ Whether it’s bad hair days or excessive shedding, not only do Shaz and Kiks provide the products to help but also break down the science behind the problem. Go on your very own shopping spree by clicking here!
Looking for accessible ayurvedic beauty products? Look no further! Ranavat is now in Sephora. With a beauty line that covers both hair and skin, there’s something here for everyone. See for yourself here.
UMM Skincare is known for its brown sugar body scrub, made with natural ingredients, and Bakuchi oil known to improve signs of aging and hyperpigmentation. Try it for yourself by shopping here!
Are you looking for brown skin-friendly sunscreen filled with nutrients? Look no further. Inde Wild has its very own SPF 50, with natural substances such as liquorice extract and cica, and it’s a mineral SPF suitable for all skin types. See what the brand is all about and shop it here.
I’m always in the market for brown girl-friendly lipsticks, and ones that are made of natural ingredients are a huge plus. Mango People does just this with their unique lipstick colors that suit all brown skin tones. Try them out here!
Need to swap out your shampoo for something better? Try Kama Ayurveda’s Ayurvedic Hair cleaner, infused with a variety of herbs and pulses with key ingredients like vetiver, tulsi, rose, moong beans, and shikakai. They have a variety of products to choose from so start with your hair and keep shopping for more here!
According to Forest Essentials, night time is the best time for hydration. Check out their night cream, filled with nutrients to enrich your skin. You can shop their wide variety of products here.
Looking for a new face mask to try? AAVRANI has a variety of face masks and explains in detail when you should apply the mask during the week depending on your skin type. Take a look here!
Just getting into skincare and don’t know where to start? PRATIMA skincare has starter sets, with basics, that every woman can use such as vitamin C serum, essential oils, and collagen creams. Grab yours now by shopping here!
Struggling with hair care recently? Fable & Mane includes various hair oils in their collection that help grow and nourish your hair. Not only that, they have a scalp detox line as well — definitely worth checking out. See their full range of products here.
In a world that’s becoming more conscious of holistic living, embracing Ayurvedic beauty in your day-to-day is a step in the right direction, and these brands are here to help you get started.
Alveena Bakhshi uses narrative as design home interiors. Born to an army colonel and civil engineer, and a design-forward mother, she has been inspired not only by their travels but also very compelling memories of her Indian summers in ancestral homes in Patiala and Gurdaspur in Northern India. In New York since 9/11, Alveena first published ‘Shot to Make Look Good’ as a poetical homage to child soldiers in 2016 and advocates for the reintegration of girl child soldiers including by supporting projects like ‘Make Home Home Again’ Alveena is a public policy graduate of Columbia University and a management professional. You can follow her on Instagram. 
