avelandleisureindia.inAnita Dongre
Fashion Designer
Rajkumari Diya Kumari of
Jaipur. She has impeccable
taste in arts, crafts, and
fashion. She was personally
groomed by her grandmother
and is rooted in reality, while
also being a custodian of a rich
legacy, and keeping the art and
culture of the royal family alive.
I also admire Rajkumari
Siddhi Kumari of Bikaner,
who runs a museum on
Bikaneri art and culture inside
Junagarh Palace, Bikaner.LOCAL DESIGNERS/
BOUTIQUES YOU VISIT
WHILE IN TOWN?
I am particularly fond ofRAJASTHAN HAS QUITE
EVIDENTLY BEEN AN
INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR
DESIGNS. WHAT DO YOU LOOK
FORWARD TO DURING TRIPS?
I keep looking for new elements
whenever I visit the state, and
I fi nd myself intrigued with
the diff erent fabrics, artwork,
handicraft, and embroideries
that hold years of history. We
recently shot the latest collection
of Grassroots at the Karauli City
Palace, home to some of the
fi nest paintings of the Rajputana
era. It is truly amazing to see the
royal family’s sustained eff orts
that have established Karauli as
a leading historic, artistic, and
spiritual destination.WHICH HANDICRAFTS OF
RAJASTHAN DO YOU LIKE?
Gota pattiis a revelation. While
it manages to create a regal
look, it is surprisingly light
and easy to wear. Some other
handicrafts I often work on,
includecutdanawork,zari,
thread work,batik, and mirror
work. It is beautiful to witnesshow the old crafts of Rajasthan
are nurtured and are still very
much alive today.ANY RAJASTHANI ROYALS
WHOSE FASHION CHOICES
YOU ADMIRE?
I find two women from the
Rajasthani royal families really
interesting, one of them beingSome of my fondest
childhood memories are from
my summer vacations at my
grandparents’ home in Jaipur. I
remember going with my grandmother
to Hawa Mahal where I would try my hand
at making lac bangles with local artisans
and watch the elegantly dressed Rajasthani
women with awe.FASHION MOGUL ANITA DONGRE FINDS
NEW REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH
RAJASTHAN ON EVERY TRIP. SHE TELLS
US HOW THE STATE INFLUENCES HER ART.COLOURFUL
MUSINGS Ayush Kafliwal’s AKFD
(akfdstudio.com)design studio
in Jaipur. AKFD uses local
crafts such as beaten brass,
stone carving, and mirror
work—the kind that have
evolved over centuries.FASHION ACCESSORIES TO
BUY IN RAJASTHAN?
Though the state is a
storehouse of colourful fashion
accessories, my personal
favourites are the lac bangles.FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS
AND BARS IN RAJASTHAN?
Whenever I’m in Jaipur,
I make it a point to visit
Anokhi Café(anokhi.com).WHERE IN THE WORLD
DO YOU FIND THE MOST
FASHIONABLE PEOPLE?
For me, it would be Milan, Italy.A GLOBAL FASHION HUB
YOU KEEP RETURNING TO?
Though I don’t have enough
time at hand to visit at present,
but I would really like to return
to Italy. I fi nd its rich art and
culture really inspiring.WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF AN
IDEAL VACATION? WHAT’S
NEXT ON YOUR LIST?
A vacation for me is being in
any place without an agenda.
My next trip will be to Austria
in October.WHAT MAKES
RAJASTHAN A SPECIAL
DESTINATION?CLOCKWISE: ANITA DONGRE; ENN LI PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTYIMAGES; SHUTTE
RSTOCK
Colourful
bangles on
sale in Jaipur.