This dusky beauty needs no introduction. Over the years any fan who has been regular of the show After Hours of Channel V would surely agree. She is still the reigning supermodel of the Indian Fashion industry. After a long and successful career in the fashion industry, these days she finds an inclination towards the business side of the fashion scene and is working towards becoming a link for Indian designers to expand their reach in the global market. She has been a successful television presenter and a role model for many females aspiring to rule the ramps some day. We caught up with Nina in New York as she juggles her life as a model, a television presenter and recently a businesswoman.
Having been in one of the most glamorous industry how do you see fashion as from an insider’s point of view?
Fashion has definitely grown and evolved over the last few years. With designers like Sabyasachi and Ashish Soni, India has been put on the global map, thus paving the way for younger designers of our country. We are a country rich in textiles, so it’s wonderful to see some of the designers make use of the country’s resources. We have a lot of talented designers but unfortunately some of the designers do not have the necessary finances to start up a big production unit which hinders their growth in such cases. It would be beneficial if organizations like the FDCI would fund promising, new designers and not only the established ones.
Fashion in India has undergone dramatic changes in a very short span of time and has grown manifolds as well and you have been with it from its very nascent phase, how would you word the changes in the fashion scene?
The fashion scene has become more professional. It has become a much more serious business than before; more like the industry is abroad. This trend has helped Indian designers become more prominent on the international stage, with international buyers and press now regularly attending our Indian fashion weeks. I’ve been happy to see many of my designer friends make progress not only within India, but across our borders.
Tell us also the story backstage about your interactions with the choreographers, model coordinators who put together such a picture perfect show?
The experience always starts with fittings, which often last for many hours and as a result sometimes aren’t the most exciting part of the day! Of course, in those instances when the clothes are beautiful, fittings can be exciting. Once I was part of a fitting that lasted a whole 9 hours! It was pretty ridiculous, so thank god for fashion weeks, when designers and choreographers realized that fitting can take place in only 3 hrs. When makeup and hair is going on, it is pretty relaxed backstage with models just hanging around and chatting / gossiping. But this is really the quiet before the storm, as some serious mayhem begins when the show starts. There’s a lot of running around backstage to make sure the models are ready to walk out on the ramp when they’re supposed to. It can be a bit stressful as the coordinator wants to make sure that the model gets out in time and the model wants to make sure she has worn her garment just right and her shoes are strapped on perfectly. But through it all it is a great, crazy adrenalin rush, and the feeling after finishing a great show is quite a high!
Also, tell us about your life as a VJ and a television presenter. What was your favorite show?
My life as a VJ was great both at Channel V and at Zee Entertainment. I really enjoyed hosting live stage shows. Also, I was exposed to the world of art and have taken a keen interest in that area ever since, and am now a collector. As part of my work with After Hours, I also had the chance to meet a lot of international personalities, like Will Smith, Ronan Keating, Vanessa Mae, Kenny G, Jethro Tull, etc. My favourite show was After Hours, for the reasons I just said!
What about the modeling industry globally and in India at present and what it has
grown from?
Well, Indian models are now taking their profession more seriously. For example, now more models are focused on being fit, as compared to before when their focus was more on plain, natural beauty. Also, India is becoming a place where not only Indian models walk the ramp and shoot for print, but many international models do so as well.
How is Nina Manuel as a person, what books do you like, what sort of music do you enjoy and all that comprises the most essential part of you other than modeling?
Nina Manuel (me :) is actually shy and reserved at certain times, and complicated and risk-taking at other times. I guess I am bit bi-polar! :) For example, I enjoy travelling and exploring new places, but I prefer eating at home to going out for dinner. As for books, I’ve enjoyed the Twilight series, and am currently on the third book. Also, I’ve recently become interested in reading about the business of fashion. Two books I recommend are The Cult of the Luxury Brand by Radha Chadha, and Marketing: An Introduction by Philip Kotler. Also, I enjoy all sorts of music and am always open to listening to different kinds of sound.
Who are your favorite Indian designers and why?
My favorite Indian designers are Savio Jon, Anamika Khanna, Varun Sardana, Prashant Verma, James Ferreira, Gavin Miguel, Arjun Saluja, Gaurav Gupta, Manish Arora (not necessarily in that order! :). They’re clothes are generally inventive and push the edge of fashion forward … plus I always look good in them, so what’s not to like?!
Who are your favorite international designers?
There is an endless list. I like the late Alexander McQueen, Carolina Herrera, Prada, Phillip Lim, Hussein Chalayan, Issey Miyaki, and Yohji Yamamoto, to name a few.
How do you see the future of fashion in India?
I see the future of fashion in India being a really bright one. For example, I’ve been living in New York, one of the world’s fashion capitals, and I’ve been generally unimpressed with the clothes I’ve seen when compared to the unique, inventive work that some of our Indian designers create. As Indian culture and fashion become more and more popular on the world stage, I see Indian designers really being able to showcase their work at foreign fashion weeks, thereby exporting their brands to other countries. I mean, Sabyasachi Mukerjee, Nikasha Tawadey, and Anand Kabra just opened Shanghai fashion week and Shilpa Chavan just designed a headpiece for Lady Gaga.
What is your opinion on the increasing number of fashion weeks in India?
Well, the increasing number of fashion weeks in India means more money for models, choreographers, make up teams and all the people who are involved in the technical side of the shows. As for the designers, more fashion weeks are great, as they provide new platforms to showcase their work. But, at the same time, care should be taken that a design council is put in place to overlook the production of a new fashion week, and screens the participants like in the WIFW and LFW. After all, we would want all fashion weeks to be quality events and really serve the Indian fashion industry, and not just be another way to spend a sponsor’s money! :)
Your comments on the sudden cancellation of Kolkata Fashion and lifestyle week?
It’s unfortunate that Kolkata Fashion week did not take place but I don’t know the details of it so I really can’t comment.
Tell us something about your school and early life?
Most of my school life was in the Middle East actually, as my father was a manager in Air India and was posted to many places, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Dubai. While it was a lot of travelling, I had the opportunity to study in five schools in four different places, which was pretty exciting.
How and why did you pick up modeling as a career?
Modeling for me started with the Look of the Year contest, even though I didn’t win or even place. But since I participated in the contest, I started getting offers to model for designers and things just kept going from there! I guess winning isn’t everything! :)
How do plan your future what next goals have you set for yourself?
As I mentioned before, I’ve been in New York City for the past year or so. I signed up with IMG Talent, who now manages my TV work globally. Am, given my growing interest in the business side of fashion, I’ve enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and am taking some courses as part of their Fashion Merchandising Management curriculum. So, with any luck, I’ll be on TV in the US and work with Indian designers looking to expand their businesses over here!
Any social cause or social issue that has stirred you and you are working for?
Being here in the US, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been all over the news of late. As the aftermath of this unfortunate event plays out, I’d like to see how I can help ease the economic and environmental impact to the already struggling city and people of New Orleans.
