Karan Rai London Issue 1

BEAUTY life is beautiful, you just have to open your eyes

FASHION it starts with confidence and ends there too

VOLUME 01

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO STARTING AGAIN find the time to follow your heart, take action and share your dreams with the world - even when you're afraid

05

MY AW 2017 WARDROBE

BY MANGO a self-taught stylist, fashion runs through me - this is my Autumn Winter 2017 list of must haves

17

CONTRIBUTORS I would be nowhere without the people that support me - I bow down to you

PAGE 3 • KARAN

EDITOR'S LETTER Where to start... in the middle I guess.

Three years ago, I was working for a publishing giant, when I noticed something. I hated working for other people, I always had, so I left my editorial job. Still living with my parents meant I didn't have to worry about a mortgage. I didn't have kids or a car or the dream job in fashion I wanted. So I had no reason not to try.

I had £1,000 in savings and started Karan Rai London, a company that makes handbags in London. I didn't know the first thing about handbags but I had a relentless spirit to create.

I found a tiny manufacturing factory based out of a shed in Harrow which had the experience I didn't. Dinesh, my maker, recommended a leather supplier in Aldgate East. From there Liam sent me to see Salo a fittings wholesaler in Highbury and Islington. I trappssed across London most days in the rain, then the snow and somedays in the sunshine with a dream. Then I ran out of money...

P.s. hi everyone - I'm Karan xoxo

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO STARTING AGAIN 'JUST START' Before KRL, I collected dirty clothes in black bags from my neighbours to resell.

I went door to door handing out leaflets for my mobile beauty service dragging my sisters along too. I launched a website that sold mass produced beauty tools from China. I scraped a different website for renting out Indian clothes. I even spent weeks finding designers for the Indian version of Netaporter. They all went no where, because I was too afraid to start - like really start. Why? I was afraid to fail - so I failed by default.

I had no vision for any of those 'businesses.' Well, that's not entirely true, the vision was always to make money. That's a terrible vision. After thousands of hours of watching YouTube videos I gained a self awareness they can't teach you in school. I love beautiful things and I want to tell people about what I think is beautiful. I have a voice.

KRL became a way for me to express myself. My handbags allowed me to learn things about myself I didn't know.

A natural introvert I was forced to talk to strangers. I learnt what hard work really entailed. I became a disciplined human being. I put this magazine together. I don't know if I'll make another but it's a start. I hope you think it's beautiful.

THE JUMPSUIT a basic staple when you're in between waxing appointments

HATS don't be afraid to experiment with accessories, just have funÂ

CHECK it's the print to be seen in so wear it anyway you want - just wear it

RED it's the colour of the season so incorporate a red item into your look

HAIR tying your hair back keeps it out of your face and shows it off

COATS a teddy bear coat will challenge you to do things you've never done - watch

MINI DRESS they're back with a vengeance so find your fav and wear it

BIKER JACKET

MAKE-UP

you don't need a motorbike you just need to feel good in it

less is more - always has been

KHAKI

GRATITUDE

be militant about wearing something khaki coloured - it's great for most complexions

be grateful it'll light up your life

STRIPES

STRAIGHT

they make you look thinner - just make sure they're vertical

straight hair makes me look sane - even when I'm not

YELLOW

MOMENTS

a yellow item will make you smile - go on sunshine, try it!

happiness hides in your mind, find it in every experience

VOLUME 01

MAC

JEANS

a PVC Mac is so hard to pull off - it looks best on curvy girls IÂ think

I love a skinny jean but they are so uncomfortable and now baggy (Mom) jeans are in

NECKLACE

VOYAGE

I'm wearing this bracelet as a necklace - I wanted to - you should too

the destination isn't your concern, moving towards it is

FLOWERS floral prints will make you feel womanly again I promise

HANDBAG Have you got a KRL handbag?

If not why not?

Explain yourself...

WRAP DRESSES wear them in the winter with slit trousers - let's learn from the Parisians

CHUNKY FLATS at first they felt heavy then I didn't want to take them off

SUNGLASSES they work in the winter too

STYLING clothes are an unspoken language - keep it simples

BACKLESS I just left this top unbuttoned and it looked chic

VELVET PANT these trousers are trending on the gram (lingo for Instagram) and I'm in themÂ

JOURNEY have fun doing what you love and then let go

PAGE 6 • KARAN

Remember that you're not doing it for the money.

BODY HAIR I've got more body hair then I care to admit one word IPL

KNEEE-HIGHS these boots instantly make you look like a street style blogger

SPIRIT triple down on your strengths - it's where your sprit animal lives

EXPLORE push yourself further then you thought possible

BOOTS you need two pairs one long and one ankle length

WHITE SHIRT has to be done but it's hard to wash out the sweat patches

THE SKIRT wear it as low as possible before it slides off - VB said so

PASTELS so much prettier then black no?

UNDERWEAR make sure your underwear and bra match - even when no one's going to see them

SCARVES wear them, don't wear them

CONTRIBUTORS 01

NEW FRIENDS I met my photographer, Jamil at my best friends wedding and he has inspired me to live life with a smile always. @jamil3680

02

THEÂ MUA my sister is a make-up artist, a magician and lives by the moto 'you might not be here tomorrow' so do it now @amzraimakeupartist

03

DAISY AT BRYON MOREL PR a #bossbabe and PR for Mango lends me clothes  - I will never be able to repay your kindness - but I'll keep trying @bryanmorelpr