Monthly Archives: August 2010

Ravinder Kuhar

Cop turned model, Ravinder Kuhar, was so fascinated to glamour that he kicked his job in Haryana Police to jump into the field of modeling. He quickly picked up and moved ahead with style and aplomb. Now walking in VHIMW, he says that his journey has been great and he learnt a lot amidst way. So we caught up with sturdy, Ravinder Kuhar narrating his life experiences.  

How are you feeling to be selected as the new face for VHIMW?
It’s amazing…… every model wants to walk in VHIMW but only few make through and I am one of them. It’s a great opportunity for me.

Which designers are you walking for?
Shantanu and Nikhil, Narendra Kumar, Varun Bahl and Karan Johar, Ankita and Anjana Bhargav, Vijay Arora, Rohit Bal, Rohit & Abhishek , Smit Raj Gyanani, Sanchita and Wendell Rodricks.

Tell us briefly about your early life, family and academics?
 I hail from a small town of Haryana viz; Samalkha. I have done my graduation from Kurukshetra University. Thereafter I thought of joining Haryana Police and got recruited as a constable from Sonepat in 2003 but two years back, I took leave without pay from my work and got into modeling. Since then I am having a good time here and it makes me feel good as quitting a secure job was a quite bold decision which brought a lot of criticizing from my family but I proved myself and earning good amount of money.

How you bumped into your first assignment?
I got my portfolio done by a photographer acquaintance of mine, Vivek Sharma. I mailed my pictures to all the concerned agencies and very next day I started getting calls from them. Finally, I got a break with Perrie Carlo and Rahul Dutta shot me. It was one of the happiest moment of my life.

QUICK SNIPPET

FAVORITE FOOD : Whatever made by my mom
       
FAVORITE PERFUME :  AVON

FAVORITE APPAREL BRAND :  LEE

FAVORITE DESIGNER : Rohit Bal

FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION : Shimla

THING YOU HATE AND LOVE MOST :  I hate selfish people and…… I love to do any work related to my modeling. 
          
THING YOU ARE ADDICTED TO : Facebook. 

YOU ARE SACRED OF :  To die without getting a good role in Bollywood.
 
MUSIC YOU LOVE TO LISTEN TO : Retro Bollywood songs.    

Which shows ( designers) and commercials have you graced with your presence?
I have walked for the likes of Manoviraj Khosla, Abdul Halder and Siddhartha Tytler. Besides, I have done commercial for Bryl Cream with Mahender Singh Dhoni, Fed x and an ad film for Samsung.

Your greatest achievement?
Getting selected in Pool A in India fashion week.

When not modeling what are you most likely to be found doing?
I always wanted to be a body builder but due to some problems I couldn’t pursue that. So still I love gyming, moderately and watching Bollywood movies.

Your role model in life?
Arjun Rampal and Salman Khan.

Your beauty and fitness regime?
Working out in gym, running and swimming regularly keep me fit.

Any interesting experience in your career span?
One day while shooting a print campaign in Mumbai, I randomly, went in a fashion show being choreographed by Farah khan. I enjoyed it and headed straight to the post show party on being urged by one of my friends. Seeing Sushmita Sen there I went all crazy and shockingly, she looked at me and called me but as soon as I could open my mouth her phone rang and she left the place.

Body Shop for Cause

The Body Shop along with EPCAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) have stood up to raise their voice against the sex trafficking of children and young people. The social campaign is meant to raise awareness about the issue, raise funding for vulnerable children and young people, and inspire those with decision-making power to effect change. Dame Anita Roddick, the late founder of The Body Shop, was passionate that this “modern-day slave trade” should be brought to public attention.

Starting from September 1, 2010, Body Shop is aiming to collect large number of petitions. To make this a reality, it is asking their customers and supporters from all around the world to sign the petition in a personalized way – by drawing around or painting their hand.

The Body Shop in this reference is asking government for: 

  • Urgently ratify the UN Trafficking Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children;
  • Integrate a compulsory module on trafficking in children within school curriculum and teachers training programs;
  • Strengthen the special 24/7 nation-wide toll free helpline to adequately address the needs of children victims of trafficking;
  • Establish specific shelters for child victims of trafficking or equip existing shelters to provide systematic adequate assistance and protection services, especially psychological counseling.

An example of the petition will be available in all Body Shop stores and online. The Body Shop believes that citizen support is the most important to make this campaign a success. And it plans to make this campaign huge by involving all sectors ranging from corporate, media, literary and the show biz. In 2011, the petitions will be presented to the national government, and then will be brought together to create a global petition to the United Nations.

Karl is in the Air

If anyone deserves a party, it’s Karl Lagerfeld.  Just two short days ago, at the French embassy on Fifth Avenue, the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT (the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City) announced that this year’s honoree, for whose work and lifetime accomplishments will be celebrated with an amplified sense of grandeur September 10th, is Karl Lagerfeld.  Lagerfeld, the German-born fashion pioneer most noted for his work as creative director and haute couture designer for the House of Chanel, is also famously entwined with the likes of Fendi of Italy and his own label, K Karl Lagerfeld.  The designer has as a storied past dating back to 1954 when he started working under the direction of Pierre Balmain.  After moving to the House of Patou in 1958, Lagerfeld designed for Chloé, Fendi, and in 1975, launched Parfums Lagerfeld.  Fluent speaker of German, French, Italian and English, the designer has long cultivated a rich sense of personal identity, style and wisdom that reaches far beyond his trademark tweed and awe inspiring couture shows.  Never without his neat, silver ponytail, dark glasses, gloved fingers, crisp white collars and slim black suiting, Lagerfeld has left us spinning in the glow of his legacy from the runways of Paris and the streets of Italy.

Therefore, it is no surprise that a crowd, thick with fashion leading names like Francisco Costa, Nicole Miller, Ralph Rucci, Gemma Kahng, and Couture Council chairs Yaz Hernandez, Alexandra Lebenthal, Charlotte Moss, and Liz Peek, gathered to start the roll of ticket sales this week on Fifth Avenue in New York City for the annual FIT benefit and luncheon slated for September 10th.  Dr. Joyce Brown, President of FIT, will present Lagerfeld with the Couture Council Fashion Visionary Award at the benefit, an honor created specifically for the designer.  A distinct award perfectly fitting for a man that gives us anything but the ordinary;  it’s time to party, Karl fever is in the air.

Francisco Costa; Linda Fargo, Christian Cota, and Lucia Hwong Gordon; FIT’s Joyce F. Brown with Ralph Rucci; Nicole Miller; FIT’s Patricia Mears and Valerie Steele with Liz Peek


Posted by : Courtney O’Kane Academy of Art University Alumna at 01:55 PM (IST)

Design One

Flagship event of Sahachari Foundation, Design One made its debut last year and is back this year in a new and vibrant avataar at the Exhibition Hall, World Trade Centre, Mumbai, on 8th and 9th September 2010 (from 10 AM to 8 PM).

The primary objective of Sahachari Foundation is to support deserving NGOs in the field of education, healthcare, social welfare, animal care and culture by raising funds through a calendar of special, high-profile events. To this end, the Foundation is organizing the second edition of "Design One": a shopping festival with a heart, to raise funds for Victoria Memorial School for the Blind and Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Supported by TBZ and IndusInd Bank, Design One will showcase the wares of 85 industrious entrepreneurs whose creations have been specially designed for the festive season and will be available under one roof! The merchandise on offer includes designer garments, accessories, jewelry, home and life-style products, silverware, gift items, delicious food and a lot more.

Well-known names showcasing their designs at Design One include Vivek Narang, Nikasha Tawade, Nandita Mahtani, Laila Motwane, Anu Mafatlal, Avni Bhuva, ‘India India’ by Amita Gupta, Meghna K, Rakhee Grover Jain, Shalini Shahani, Kanika Mehra and Trupti Hermans.


Indian Durbar at Buckingham

A show of Azeem Khan’s exquisite collection choreographed by Marc Robinson – both big names on the fashion circuit at the Standard Chatered event stole all attention.

Couturist Azeem Khan who holds court with his highly acclaimed show – An Indian Durbar at Buckingham Palace – said, “My latest collection draws inspiration from the neo- conservative wave of class and style associated with the late 1800s, from Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations when the Indian royalty was invited to Buckingham Palace. I have attempted to amalgamate glamour, class, elegance & style with the prerequisite elements of wearability, comfort and practicality.”

The showstopper of the evening was the preciously talented Kangana Ranaut who epitomizes feminine achievement. This talented Bollywood beauty looked breathtakingly resplendent in Azeem’s piece de resistance, wooing the audience as she confidently strutted down the runway with elan. The same outfit was auctioned off later in the evening. The entire proceeds accruing from the auction will be donated to an eye hospital in Kolkata – a most noble endeavor towards a deserving cause.

Designers for Winter/Festive

Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) announced 74 designers and 12 sponsors today for LFW Winter / Festive 2010 at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

This season the event also innovates further to offer some commendable highlights like the Gen Next program completing 5 years, LFW will showcase a special “Gen Next 5 Year Show” celebrating the spirit of ‘Defining the Future of Fashion’. The show will see designer alumni of Gen Next like Aneeth Arora, Anuj Sharma, Kallol Datta, Kunal Rawal, Nachiket Barve, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Rahul Mishra, Rimzim Dadu, Sailex Ngairangbam and Swapnil Shinde will showcase together.

The presence of renowned designers like Manish Arora and Ritu Kumar for the first time on the LFW runway is also being celebrated.  LFW patrons such as Anita Dongre, Anand Kabra, Anupama Dayal, Krishna Mehta, Little Shilpa, Manish Malhotra, Neeta Lulla, Raakesh Agarvwal, Satya Paul and Troy Costa round out the 74 designers participating this season.

And an offsite show by Narendra Kumar at Tote is a new addition to LFW’s array of innovative displays. The show, that marks Tote’s Anniversary on September 16th, will embrace a higher sense of fine aesthetics and bring alive varied expressions of the collection whilst breaking away from routine of the ramp.


Shape Not Size

Levi’s launched a new line of custom fit jeans, by John Anderson, President & CEO, Levi Strauss & Co. The new line, utilizes a revolutionary fit system based on shape, not size and was created as a result of studying more than 60,000 body scans.

The brand showcased the Levi’s® Curve ID fit system as part of the India leg of the global launch. Levi’s designers created a new approach to measuring a woman’s body. Through this approach, they have identified three distinct body types that account for 80 percent of women’s shapes universally. The three Levi’s Curve ID fits are based on these universal body types, which include: Slight Curve, Demi Curve and Bold Curve. 

Levi’s Curve ID jeans will be available in select Levi’s stores across India from 2 September 2010. Each store carrying the line will have trained fit experts to measure women, identify their Levi’s Curve ID and help them find the best fitting jeans for their body type and style preference. 
 

Fashion Tour in Mumbai

The Blenders Pride Fashion tour lands in Mumbai, bringing an opulent fashion extravaganza near to its consumers.  A special afternoon was hosted high on fashion quotient through a preview of the designer’s exquisite BPFT Tour ’10 collection. The fashion shows will be held from 3rd to 5th September and post Mumbai the tour travels to Kolkata. 

The stars of this edition are twelve exceptionally gifted designers that include Ashish N.Soni, Asmita Marwah, Gavin Miguel, Gunjan & Rahul, Mandira Wirk, Nandita Mahtani, Neeta Lulla, Raghvendra Rathore, Shantanu and Nikhil, Vikram Phadnis, Surily Goel and Wendell Rodricks. 

At the preview model turned actress Lisa Hayden looked stunning in an outfit created by Wendell Rodricks. The charming Sushma Reddy graced the afternoon for Neeta Lulla while the hot and happening Maliaka Arora Khan sizzled in a Surily Goel outfit.  Asmita Marwah’s creation glistened on Bruna Abdullah and the ravishing Mugdha Godse looked her very best in Gavin Miguel’s ensemble. Vikram Phadnis had Perizaad Zorabian as his muse and Shehzaan Padmasee adorned Nandita Mahtani’s outfit. 
 

Bridal Finery at Olive

Divya Gurwara celebrated the 12th edition of Bridal Asia over a High Tea Preview in Mumbai hosted at Olive in Bandra. Designers Shane & Falguni Peacock, Malini Agarwalla of “Malaga” and Shaheen Abbas presented a sneak peak of their bridal creations.

Pratima Bhatia and Nisha Jamwval attended, carrying bags and wearing jewellery from Malaga’s new bridal accessories line, Shane & Falguni dressed  Sanea Shaikh and Shamita Singha in their bridal finery and Suchitra Pillai, Manasi Scott, Namrata Shroff made a statement in  dressed in stunning silver jewellery from Shaheen Abbas.

Speaking on the occasion Divya Guruwara said, “Since a large percentage of our participants and visitors come to the show from Mumbai, it’s an apt occasion to celebrate and showcase trends in this fashion forward city”.

Guests seen at this elegant high tea do were Ekta Raheja, Poonam Mahajan, Nayantara Thacker Jaya Raheja Anisha Chaturvedi Poonam & Kriti Soni Meenakshi Kuwadekar Teena Ahuja Falguni Jhaveri Alisha Chauhan Shonali Shroff Azmeena Rahimtoola Roshan Abbas Mamta Anand Ina Arora Mansi Joshi Delna & Simone Poonawala Kavita Chougule Shibani Suri, Kunika Singh amongst many others.