SEE
wear (to) work
(Amrit) At wetheppl, we have different avatars, and Mriga Kapadiya (of Norblack Norwhite) and I are the ninjas, taking on the world. The print behind the ninja was done by a Sri Lankan artist based in Toronto named Rajni Perera, who is an inspiration to us.
M U M B A I
Eleven Mumbai professionals let us into their work spaces and revealed their style mantras.
KUNAL LODHIA DESIGNER, CAMIZ STUDIO: Bandra, Mumbai
“Over time, I have cultivated a uniform in terms of cuts and colours, which are muted and dark, with a lot of blacks thrown in. I rotate a pair of jeans every few years and like the idea of breaking into clothes to the point where they become an extension of you.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHOVAN GANDHI WRIT TEN AND PRODUCED BY RIN YAOKHAN JA JO
(Amrit) This vest has pieces from various places, and it’s about the idea of collecting things, their history, and where they come from.
AMRIT KUMAR CO-DESIGNER, NORBLACK NORWHITE STUDIO: Bandra, Mumbai (Kunal) A man was selling these at the Kala Ghoda festival. They’re handmade with cloth scraps and rice husks.
“I like wearing clothes that are comfortable, and a lot of them are from our label. I love dressing up at home or even when I come to Chuim. It generates a lot of curiosity from the kids, and I like that they’re being exposed to new ideas.” This is the infamous Professor Postman who once was a member of our collective.
34 | CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING
MARCH 2013
SEE NIMISH SHAH FASHION DESIGNER STUDIO: Thane, Mumbai
A stock of different types of tea and coffee.
“Very often I work by myself, and I wear comfortable things like shorts, jeans, chinos, T-shirts, and loafers. I’m developing a range of menswear and am sampling that as well.” The print is from a magazine that I use as reference for my colour palette, and the other frame contains testimonials from people from my previous work places.
I’ve always liked Tank magazine, and I picked up these early copies from a rare books shop on Camden Street in London.
MARCH 2013
These wave-breaker paperweights are by Bombaygraphy. I like that it has intelligent design: it is an object you see every day that is so iconic to the city, and you translate it into something like this.
CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING | 35
SEE
I adopted my cats Bailey and Google from the streets, and they’ve been with me for over five years. They are sitting on cushions we developed for Bombay Circus.
The candle holder is from a French plantation home in Madagascar, gifted by a friend. The decanter is from Morocco, and I got the cork stops from a quirky shop in Hong Kong.
KRSNA MEHTA OWNER & DESIGN DIRECTOR, INDIA CIRCUS HOME STUDIO: Peddar Road, Mumbai I picked up this Jogen from a gallery in town.
“I wear casual clothes to work like shorts and T-shirts, mostly black. If I have a meeting in the day, I wear chinos or corduroys with a coloured shirt thrown in.” 36 | CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING
This basket is from Mauritius.
MARCH 2013
SEE JAS CHARANJIVA GRAFFITI ARTIST HOME STUDIO: Bandra, Mumbai
This is a character I created at my old studio for a series called Happy Misfitz. He’s a super hero, takes on different avatars, and is angry at the way the world is.
I’ve liked David Bowie since I was six and have been collecting books and magazines about him. I like that he has such style and is intellectual.
“When I am working, I wear clothes that are practical. An old T-shirt with a pair of cargoes so that I can keep my phone and brushes in the pockets.” MARCH 2013
I’ve been collecting these toys since 2002, many of them are Japanese. Brands like Kid Robot do cool collaborations with street artists and graphic designers.
I admire Sofia. She’s stylish, sophisticated, and always has great soundtracks in her films. That’s a copy of the script for Lost in Translation I got from a friend, and it has her notes scribbled in it.
CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING | 37
SEE
PALOMA MONNAPPA DJ, MODEL, & STYLIST HOME STUDIO: Versova, Mumbai
My dad gave this old Vogue print to me. I have a fashion marketing degree from college, but after interning for a couple of months I realized I wasn’t cut out for a 9-to-5 job.
I learnt surfing about a year ago at the Surf festival. I picked it up so quickly that my friend gifted me this Malibu long board from his collection.
“My style is Boho and I’m obsessed with Aztec prints and feathers at the moment. I like wearing crop tops and shorts when I’m out playing at a party or working.”
I used to play the piano and my dad has influenced my taste. I heard a lot of blues and jazz through him
Most of these are my dad’s, but I’m going to start collecting. I like that they sound so much better, and hopefully I’ll learn how to DJ on one of those.
38 | CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING
MARCH 2013
I got these Bauhaus toys from the Bauhaus Museum in Berlin. I love the craftsmanship.
SEE
“I like being comfortable and don’t like being tied down by the tie. I like open, free flowing spaces and energy, and it translates into what I wear, which is something light and comfortable.” ASHIESH SHAH PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT, ASHIESH SHAH ASSOCIATES HOME STUDIO: Carmichael Road, Mumbai
I’ve collected these insects from various places, including Thailand, New York, and flea markets everywhere. They’re beautiful to look at and are like pieces of art. These are by a Pakistani artist called Mariam Suhail. It talks about inflation and deflation and is related to the ego since it’s also red.
MARCH 2013
This is my attempt at art. It’s about poking yourself to be able to look at the world and see it for what it is.
CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING | 39
SEE
RICHA SRIVASTAVA DIRECTOR, NATIVE WORKS OFFICE: Matunga, Mumbai
Maynard is a roguish threemonth-old beagle who loves car rides, long naps, belly rubs, and chasing dogs twice his size.
“I’m pretty laid back and like clothes that are stylish but comfortable. You’ll often find me in a long skirt teamed with a simple tee or maxi dresses with flip-flops. I’m not a big fan of pants and only wear them grudgingly on the days I’m shooting.” I was in Istanbul during a layover and these bowls caught my eye. I promptly fell in love with the pretty colors and patterns.
I get distracted/lose interest rather quickly, and therefore often read about six books at the same time.
40 | CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING
This Moka pot was a birthday present from my best friend who introduced me to the joys of freshly brewed coffee, pulling me from the dreary grasp of instant. I travel fairly often for work and love the fact that it’s small enough to come everywhere with me, making me feel right at home.
MARCH 2013
SEE
I got this as a birthday gift from a friend and used it through college. What I like about it is the old-school method where you really need to get hands-on to use it.
ANJALI MODY FURNITURE DESIGNER & OWNER, JOSMO STUDIO/WORKSHOP: Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
“I like to wear something that will last me through the day, so I prefer comfortable cottons, especially since I’m on the floor working with the carpenters.” I use Moleskins for my diary, and carry one around at all times since I like planning out my life. I get a new planner every year. As a design studio, our style is eccentric, and we work with different materials. This book is a go-to guide of how to push the limits and boundaries of materials.
Different elements go into inspiring my work, and these are a few objects I’ve collected for inspiration.
MARCH 2013
CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING | 41
SEE
I collect Japanese toys. This vampire Batman is a rare prototype I picked up from Singapore.
RANDOLPH CORREIA MUSICIAN STUDIO: Andheri, Mumbai
“When I’m out playing with Pentagram, I’m in the kind of clothes I’d wear to a party. With Shaa’ir + Func, I like taking on a new character every time.” I wear these shades sometimes when I perform. The voice box is a vocal effect processor, and I use it to make robotic sounds or for harmony.
The keyboard is part of my travel kit, and plugged into my laptop I can make music wherever I go.
42 | CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING
MARCH 2013
SEE
All of my jewelry is a reminder of either people, moments, or ideals I’d like to keep close to my heart. The 1-rupee coin is a reminder that money is just another man-made invention, and I should never become a slave to it.
MONICA DOGRA MUSICIAN AND ACTOR HOME STUDIO: Bandra, Mumbai
“My personal style is really instinct based. I pay attention to how I feel, and then I just do whatever I like. I suppose since I’m a very aesthetically oriented person in general—from my relationship with the world, to my relationship with myself, I have a subconscious attention towards trends. When I perform, I focus on elevating myself into a space of divine expression— so my clothes are often towards the extraordinary expression side of things. Otherworldly almost.”
I love this quote by the Indigo Girls: “The hardest to learn was the least complicated.” That’s this puzzle. Tibetan tea pot. I’m a big believer in the healing elements of tea. The ritualistic aspect of letting the leaves steep, then pouring out that amber concoction that results is a sort of meditation for me.
MARCH 2013
Opal has always been my favorite stone. It looks like the universe in light. This kada was gifted to me by my grandfather who was a priest in Jammu. I like to keep his memory close.
CARAVAN STYLE & LIVING | 43