Meena Kumari

Delhi Couture Week 2011: JJ Valaya

Lahore Wedding 1931

I first came across the Indian Memory Project while dreaming in PardonMyHindi land. I love it.

The Indian Memory Project is an attempt to trace the history of India, its people, professions, development, traditions, cultures, settlements and cities through pictures found in personal family albums and archives. It was founded in February 2010, by Anusha S Yadav.

This picture is a family portrait taken of Arvind Hoon's grandparents' wedding. Lahore 1931.  If you have awesome vintage family wedding pictures that you would like to share, please send them to us: info@ctcwest.ca.

NorBlack NorWhite

My sisters run an incredible line called NorBlack NorWhite.

After being raised in the Greater Toronto Area, these two passionate ladies packed their bags and moved to Bombay.  They've been traveling all over India, learning about the history of textiles that are specific to certain regions of our Motherland, and then working with locals to bring their heritage and traditions back to the forefront of fashion.  

Their latest line was developed in Banaras.  This time, instead of traveling in a pair, the NorBlack NorWhite ladies invited their Moms to join them on their journey.  Below is a beautiful glimpse into their world.  You might want to watch it in full-screen to cach the sub-titles:

Welcome to the future.

Tarun Tahiliani Bridal Couture 2011

Tarun Tahiliani GETS IT!  It's that fine balance between our Eastern heritage, and the fit, cut and simplicity of the Western world.  It's a rare balance, and TT has proven his skills as if he was a professionally trained tightrope walker.  

In an interesting move, Tahiliani has dismissed the idea of another industry fashion show, and instead has decided to showcase the 2011 Tarun Tahiliani Bridal Couture Exposition in a gallery setting. He'll be taking his exposition outside of the traditional Delhi and Mumbai stops, with exhibitions scheduled in Hyderabad and Kolkata as well.

Over the past couple of years, I've enjoyed Tahiliani's soft colour schemes, wide vintage borders and most importantly, his simplicity in design.

“Luxury is inside, never outside, the true buyer of couture understands that, only the nouveau riche want clothes to scream” -- Tarun Tahilani