TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / APRIL 2018 37
+ At their studio in
leafy Lajpat Nagar,
En Inde (eninde.
com) encourages
you to “find your
steel” with their
striking range of
stainless steel
jewelry. “Not
wearing gold is
almost sacrilege
in India, yet this
collection has
caught on,” Kaur
says. “The pieces
are inspired by a
rustic, tribal
aesthetic, and
make use of
atypical materials
like steel and jute.
They convey
power, strength
and individuality.”
+ “Nicobar
(nicobar.com)
clearly has vision,
one that mines
urban India’s
hipster beach-
loving alter ego.
Pared down
silhouettes,
surprising design
details and
excellent quality
appeal to a broad
audience. A foot
planted in India and
another steppingoverseas, Nicobar
hands-down
captures the
country’s growing
frontier spirit.”
+ “The clothes by
Simran Chaudhry
of Artisau (fb.com/
wearartisau) are
ambient and
rooted in
minimalism.
Elegant and simple
cuts, a beautiful
color palette,
natural fabrics
and sustainable
practices are
their hallmark.”+ Doodlage
(doodlage.in)
makes a case for
sustainable
fashion. “Kriti
Tula’s label
focuses exclusively
on recycled and
repurposed
garments. The
message is
serious: we need to
cut waste in
fashion. Yet , at the
same time, Tula’s
collection of
breezy frocks and
jackets is playful
and whimsical.”other, designers are questioning what it means
to be Indian and an individual.
Kaur is exploring these issues at Serendipity
Delhi with her curated collection of furniture,
textiles and vintage treasures from India and
beyond. She also points to fashion designers like
Sanjay Garg at Raw Mango and Suket Dhir of
his eponymous menswear label as pioneers in
these internal-external deliberations. Garg
focuses on the iconic saree, stripping it down to
its simplest component and mining village
know-how to revive old-fashioned weaves.
Dhir, meanwhile, straddles time and genre,
managing to marry a Savile Row-sensibility
with quirky vintage and athletic references.
“Garg is an example of the resurgence of
minimalism, yet has a strong commitment to
Indian craft,” Kaur says. “Dhir’s silhouettes are
looser, restructured and a bit rebellious. More
designers are chiming in, the questions are
broader, the pitch is different and the
conversation livelier.”
Creating intellectual and physical space to
experience good design is as important as the
products. “Design is most visible when it’s not
overworked,” Kaur says. Delhi is a city
notorious for its claustrophobic markets and
over-dressing, so this type of thinking is a giant
leap. Kaur’s own outpost has made the jump:
hidden at the end of a dusty country lane in
Jonapur, a modest village on the outskirts of
Delhi, Serendipity Delhi sits within a rustic
whitewashed haveli, a classic Indian home >>THESE ARE A FEW OF
KAUR’S FAVORITE
UP-AND-COMING
DESIGN STARS AND
PIONEERS WORTH
SEEKING OUT:En Inde’s jewelry
often uses tribal
elements.Artisau’s.
handloomed.
silk Aravali.
dress..DRESS: COURTESY OF ARTISAU