(July 31, 2021; 6.45 pm) What’s in a bag, you say? A lot actually. Your handbag is not just functional or a mere fashion accessory; it is a personal statement, a way to express yourself, a status symbol if you will. While not everyone is going to be carting along a Louis Vuitton or Hermes, they are definitely going to be wanting to carry along one that is as convenient as it is gorgeous; something that is as durable as it is stylish. And definitely not something that will burn a hole in one’s pocket.
Turns out, Indian handbag manufacturers have been listening… and delivering. The women’s handbag market in India has been burgeoning in the past few years. According to a Technavio report, the Indian handbag market could potentially grow by over $207 million from 2021 to 2025. With trends evolving as frequently as the seasons, the scope for this particular market has never looked better. And now, some of these homegrown brands have also expanded their horizons and have begun catering to international clients.
Global Indian looks at how these Indian brands are changing the handbag game, one stylish design at a time.
Hidesign
Dilip Kapur
One of the few Indian luxury brands, Hidesign was launched in 1978 by Dilip Kapur in Pondicherry as a form of rebellion against mass produced products. He wanted to create a product that was different from the uniform and synthetic flatness of other leather bags available in the market. While it initially only had customers who weren’t going to mainstream stores, it burst onto the mainstream scene 10 years later. Kapur initially started Hidesign as a hobby: he had worked in a leather factory while doing his PhD at Princeton University. When he came back to Pondicherry, he began making leather bags – his first bag earned him ₹300. He soon launched the company with a capital of ₹25,000 and one cobbler. Hidesign came to be known for its veg tanned, full grain leathers and styles that were quite different from the run-of-the-mill ones available in the market. The brand picked up popularity and has now become a luxury brand across the country and globally with over 102 exclusive stores and a distribution network in 23 countries.
Da Milano
Sahil Malik with his wife Shivani; Photo Courtesy: You and I
Launched in 2000 by NIFT-graduate Sahil Malik, Da Milano was born primarily because Indian didn’t have any premium handbag store at the time. More often than not, consumers bought their luxury bags from international retailers. Twenty years since its launch, this brand is fashioning a global empire for itself. Today, the brand has over 75 stores and clocked in a turnover of ₹143 core as of 2020. The fact that Da Milano offers a lifetime warranty for all its products has certainly helped it cement the trust-factor. A winning strategy that Malik applied when opening any store was the ‘McDonalds strategy’ of ensuring prime locality/the right real estate to ensure footfall. The brand sources its leather from Italy and Brazil, while the accessories come from China and Hong Kong. Da Milano entered the international markets and currently has a presence in Kathmandu, Qatar, Bahrain, and Dubai.
Baggit
Nina Lekhi with Shraddha Kapoor
Nina Lekhi was all of 18 when she launched Baggit 30 years ago as an eco-friendly, vegan alternative to the luxury bags available in the market. With an investment of just ₹7,000, Lekhi began selling her bags at exhibitions and supplied to a few retail stores. Soon she was doing her own exhibitions which led to bigger retail outlets such as Shopper’s Stop stocking her collection. When she tried to open her first offline store in 2000, it was a huge dud and she suffered massive losses. Not one to be put off, Lekhi worked her way around the many challenges in her path and today, the brand is rather successful. While, many brands import their materials, Baggit ensures that everything they use is locally sourced. Today, Baggit is worth ₹111 crore with over 360 SKUs and 10 franchised stores. Lekhi now has her sight set on the international market mainly through online channels to begin with.
(September 17, 2021) Handlebar moustache and a sleek style is what makes British-Indian designer Saran Kohli stand out among the rest. The 34-year-old, who has an eponymous label, has become a name to reckon with in the fashion circles. So much so that even Hollywood's biggest studio Marvel couldn't ignore the designer who has styled the who's who of the entertainment industry. Kohli, who fell in love with fashion as a teenager while helping his mom set up her boutique, has now designed for one of the most-anticipated films of 2021 Eternals. Kohli, who started with big labels like Hugo Boss and Banana Republic, has come a long way in his Global Indian journey. Baby steps into fashion Born in East London in a Sikh family to immigrant parents who moved to the UK in the 70s, Kohli shifted to India at the age of two after his parents' divorce. It was in New Delhi that Kohli spent his initial days at his grandparents house while his mother started her own fashion business to build a new life for them. India gave Kohli the perfect opportunity to embrace his culture, and after spending 10 years, he returned to London with
his initial days at his grandparents house while his mother started her own fashion business to build a new life for them. India gave Kohli the perfect opportunity to embrace his culture, and after spending 10 years, he returned to London with his mom where she opened her first boutique.
It was his mom's boutique that became a schooling ground for Kohli in fashion. He would spend hours helping her in her sales and choreographing catwalk shows and that's how Kohli was introduced to the world of fashion. The texture, fabric and cuts is something that always attracted Kohli, and soon he found himself enrolled in London College of Fashion. After graduating in fashion management, Kohli found himself working for Japanese designer Michiko Koshino as a public relations and marketing assistant. This first hand experience of working with a designer helped Kohli understand the nuances of the craft and opened doors for him in labels like Hugo Boss and Banana Republic.
Knocking on the door with eponymous label
After learning the trick of the trade from the masters, Kohli launched his own fashion label Saran Kohli in 2009 - a one-stop shop for designer menswear. "I wanted to find that fine line between my heritage and a sartorial finishing with an informal approach to clothing where it could be worn in multiple fashion," he told Voice of Fashion. While his collections are manufactured in the UK and Europe, his craftsmanship is rooted in India as he works with the artisan families that his mom originally collaborated with.
Within two years of introducing his label, Kohli bagged the Best Newcomer Award in Fashion Design at International Asian Fashion Awards 2011. This catapulted Kohli's business and in no time, Saran Kohli Label became a favorite with celebrities across the globe. From singer Jay Sean to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Kohli has styled the best in the world. It's Kohli love for music, dance, travel and culture that often inspire his collections.
After featuring in New York Times, GQ UK, UK Esquire and Asian Wealth Magazine, Saran Kohli Label opened its first official store in London in 2016, and has been going strong ever since. While Kohli has styled some of most well-known personalities, his real big break came in the form of Marvel's Eternals.
The Marvel moment
It was in 2019 that a call from Marvel Studios's costume department that took Kohli by surprise. The designer received a request to create outfits for 52 dancers for a sequence in Marvel's most-anticipated film Eternals that has Kumail Nanjiani playing the first South Asian superhero. Kohli, who himself is a choreographer and dancer, leapt at the opportunity. Keeping up with Marvel's stringent confidentiality protocols, Kohli couldn't understand the magnitude of the project till he signed on the dotted lines.
"It was a direct call from the costume department of Marvel Studios. Initially, they didn't even tell me if it was for a film. They just told me that they are looking for some costumes for this scene that has got a bit of a dance sequence. This is the kind of feel. I didn't interrogate so much initially because I have done film costume design in the past and I thought it must be one of those regular films only. Later when they sent an email, the film name was different, it was a made-up name of a film. They asked me to meet them at the Pinewood Studios. And when they took this name I figured out that it is going to be a big-budget film. I initially thought it might be a Bollywood flick. But later when I spoke to one of the heads of the costume department at Marvel, I realized it was something big for sure," he told the Times of India.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WVDKZJkGlY
Working with Marvel Studio was an enriching experience for Kohli as it gave him a chance to represent his Indian roots. "Marvel doesn’t just have an American audience, it is in every corner of the earth. It makes us feel appreciated and also inspires a lot of young talent to embrace who we are," he added.
Vitiligo awareness
While Kohli was all over the news for bagging a plum project like Marvels, his range of vitiligo masks in 2020 equally became the talk of the town. For someone who has struggled with the skin condition for years, Kohli decided to spread awareness and combat the stigma around it through his new range. It was the age of 16 that Kohli saw the first white spot on his face and for years, he hid it behind his glasses and full-length clothing. It took him many years to be comfortable in his skin, and now he has started a dialogue to create awareness on vitiligo with his collection.
"It is a great time to open up the avenues of fashion to the debate surrounding skin and a person’s skin color. We, as a generation, have been able to vocally express things that the previous generation has not been able to do," he told Indulge Express. Parts of the proceeds raised for the range were donated to the Vitiligo Society as a part of his advocacy and awareness campaign.
The 34-year-old Kohli, who fell in love with fashion at a young age, found his true calling in his label. And the designer has now put Indian fashion on the global map by designing for one of the biggest Hollywood films.
(April 24, 2022) On February 19, 2022, the NG-17 Cygnus arrived at the International Space Station, with Indian-origin astronaut Raja Chari taking the lead on the mission. The Cygnus freighter spacecraft went bearing a very unusual load - The Moon Gallery. This is the Moon-Mars Mission 2022-25, an “international, collaborative art installation, housing the seeds of a future, shared interplanetary culture.” On February 18, the test payload carried 64 works of art by 100 artists from around the world. Each work is no bigger than one cubic centimetre. Among this elite group is Lakshmi Mohanbabu, the “first Singaporean artist in space." The Indian-origin artist and architect, who has been based in Singapore since 2001, is holding up what looks like a tiny, orange cube – a replica of the originals that are currently orbiting the Earth from the International Space Station. The intricate, labyrinth of patterns on each side, slowly become clear – these are based on the philosophy of yin and yang, she explains. Created in collaboration with scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, the process began two years ago, Lakshmi says, in an interview with Global Indian. The Moon Gallery will spend 10 months aboard the International Space Station before returning to
hnological University, Singapore, the process began two years ago, Lakshmi says, in an interview with Global Indian. The Moon Gallery will spend 10 months aboard the International Space Station before returning to Earth. By 2025, it will be re-launched to the moon, permanently.
“I had to create an artwork that could withstand conditions in space,” she explains, “There's not much atmosphere, the gravity is lower and there is a huge temperature difference.” When sunlight hits the moon's surface, the temperature rises as high as 127 degrees Celsius (this 'daytime' lasts 14 Earth days). When the sun goes down for a fortnight, the temperature plummets to a bone-chilling minus 173 degrees Celsius.
Preparing for a space odyssey
To start with, Lakshmi contacted the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, who put her in touch with NTU. In collaboration with two scientists, she was presented with “a bunch of prototypes.” Settling on aluminium, the miniscule works were based on her 'Interactions' series, from her days as a student of design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. Each painting has two sides, representing the duality of all things - the positive and negative, yin and yang- and their constant dialogue with each other.
As a design student, she is fascinated by concepts that could encompass humanity, universal laws and countless symbols. The symbolism, she admits, “can be difficult to understand,” and she often provides detailed explanations alongside - somewhat resonant of the French modern master, Marcel Duchamp. Like him, she describes herself as a thinking artist whose works require explanation.
“The positive cannot exist without the negative,” Lakshmi says. There is no light without darkness. “My design is based on the wave form - the crest and the trough. All energy is transmitted through waves.” The “spiral,” another universal symbol - is the form of human DNA and the shape of our galaxy.
Created through 3D printing, the first cube is bright orange. “It’s about fire, progress and the energy that drives us,” she says. The second cube was made in collaboration with Dr Matteo Seita, assistant professor, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, NTU who manipulated the orientation of molecules.
The much-anticipated moon landing is only a segment of Lakshmi’s plans. For instance, she is already in talks with NTU to create mega cubes for public spaces in Singapore and the world “As an architect, I feel like it has to occupy all spaces.” As a fashion designer, Lakshmi is “translating it into scarves and shoes, which will be sold in the metaverse. The entire series is available as NFTs on the metaverse. “I have space sounds incorporated into the animation, because it’s based on a piece of art that has actually been in space,” she says. She created a range of carpets, and is working with Singapore’s Moon Festival and its famous “moon cakes.”
Via Singapore to the Moon
Born in Trivandrum, Lakshmi never actually lived in Kerala. Her father was soon transferred to Sikkim, back when it was still a Buddhist kingdom. “There was no religion at home,” Lakshmi recalls. In the late 1970s, the family moved to Afghanistan, where Lakshmi spent the better part of her childhood. “Just before the Soviet invasion,” Lakshmi remarks. “I could hear missiles whizzing overhead - you then get used to things,” says the artist wryly. Her time in Afghanistan was vibrant, and a culturally diverse experience which also highlighted human universality.
She returned to Manipal University, Karnataka, where she graduated with a degree in architecture, met the man she would marry, then moved to Delhi, working with Rajiv Goel Architects and Benjamin and Benjamin (now Benjamin, Benjamin and Vats). Then, surprisingly, she chose to study fashion design at NIFT, “for all the wrong reasons,” she laughs. Following her sister into NIFT. A degree in fashion design, she worked with renowned designer Tarun Tahiliani, and was part of his first-ever show. She also taught at NIFT till in 2001, Singapore came calling, and she left with her husband.
The art and its muse
Her other major series, Expressions, sits in the same philosophical space as Interactions. These paintings are instantly captivating, vibrant and bold - presenting a suite of human emotions. Again, it is the sense of universality, duality and balance that she sets out to capture. “There is joy and agony, you can't have one without the other,” she smiles, adding, “Today, we interact constantly and travel. You visit a place, pick up something that appeals, but no matter what you do or where you go, you're still you.”
(November 13, 2021) It's the fusion of Indian craftsmanship and modern designs that make Shwetambari Mody's fashion label a global name. The New York-based fashion designer is on a mission to preserve Indian crafts by providing a platform for their work to shine in the arena of international style and fashion. This very calling has put her on a global platform where her work is being recognised for being a perfect amalgamation of the East and the West. Mody, who was always fond of art as a child, decided to translate her passion into a career that has now made her a global entity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SHWETAMBARI (@shwetambari_ny) From artist to fashion school Born and raised in Mumbai, Mody was always interested in doodling. Art and sketching are something that resonated with her and to hone her craft, her parents enrolled her in art classes as a child and soon it became a part of who she was. During her teens, she found her mother to be the biggest influence on her as Mody would often accompany her to Rohit Khosla's atelier where the pioneer of Indian fashion would drape fabrics
Born and raised in Mumbai, Mody was always interested in doodling. Art and sketching are something that resonated with her and to hone her craft, her parents enrolled her in art classes as a child and soon it became a part of who she was. During her teens, she found her mother to be the biggest influence on her as Mody would often accompany her to Rohit Khosla's atelier where the pioneer of Indian fashion would drape fabrics on her mother. The sight was a sheer pleasure for this then teenager and she had already fallen in love with fashion. So after completing her schooling at Bombay Scottish School, her dream of pursuing fashion as a career came to fruition as she enrolled herself at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York at the age of 17.
While she learned the tricks of the trade at fashion school, Mody was also keen to enhance her management skills for any business is a perfect amalgamation of both. So her next stop was ESSEC Business School in Paris where she studied MBA in luxury brand management. "During my time in Paris, I fell in love with design craftsmanship and savoir-faire. It reminded me of Indian artisans, or karigars, who still use age-old techniques that have been passed down through generations," she told Travel Curator in an interview.
After completing her post-graduation, Mody landed a job working on the corporate side of fashion in textile research. But soon she started to miss the creativity and realised that she was ready to launch her brand as it was her true calling. "While big companies are great and they teach you a lot, you get a small section because you're a cog in the machine. I thought, if I don't do this now, I'll never do this. The French talk about savoir-faire and they do an amazing job with it—but us Indians, we have it too. It’s called 'karigaree' which means artistry. This artistry is what I wanted to understand better, and how do you convert that into something that's wearable for every day? So that is how I started this brand; it is a homage to my country and its artists," she told CRFashion Book.
A global brand
In August 2020, Mody launched her eponymous label and since then has been bringing Indian craftsmanship to New York through her designs. The New York-based brand is a true homage to her homeland with its intricate handiwork embroidery embellishment and vivid prints but with a touch of NYC cool. A fine artist and painter, Mody decided to translate her craft onto fabric and see the magic happen.
Talking about the inspiration behind her venture, this Global Indian told Travel Curator, "I was working in the corporate world before starting Shwetambari and I felt creatively deprived so I would always paint at home. It was one of my resin paintings that acted as the catalyst for me to create the collection. When you pour resin onto the canvas it does its own thing, it’s very organic and it got me thinking about how this could translate into something else I love and that is fabric."
Mody is keen to bring her Indian influence to the collection so that the world gets to know about Indian craftsmanship. Through her collections, Mody is preserving the traditional Indian fashions by utilising the artisans' technique in her design while incorporating modern techniques. The rising designer is providing a perfect East-meets-West experience to the global audience by putting Indian designs and artisans on the world map with her collection.
(December 13, 2023) Designer Geethika Kanumilli’s world collapsed when she was diagnosed with anti-phospholipid syndrome, an irreversible immune system disorder that leads to abnormal blood clots. It led to the loss of vision in one of her eyes and threatened to put a full stop to her childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer. Geethika Kanumilli was not one to give up, however, not even when her eye condition worsened to the point where she had to drop out of fashion school. The iron-willed designer decided to take her challenges head-on, went on to launch her own fashion label and expanded her brand’s customer base to 12 countries and 45 cities. She has also dressed many celebrities including Kiara Advani, Madhuri Dixit, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Trisha Krishnan, PV Sindhu and Allu Arjun. [caption id="attachment_47426" align="aligncenter" width="477"] Fashion designer Geethika Kanumilli | Photo: Instagram[/caption] Learning through mistakes “Everyone has their own idea of learning. Some believe it comes from earning a degree, reading books, or gaining work experience. For me, learning meant taking action,” points out fashion designer Geethika Kanumilli, in an exclusive with Global Indian. With no business or fashion background and no degree, Geethika has proved that through determination
ing. Some believe it comes from earning a degree, reading books, or gaining work experience. For me, learning meant taking action,” points out fashion designer Geethika Kanumilli, in an exclusive with Global Indian. With no business or fashion background and no degree, Geethika has proved that through determination and hard work, one can do the impossible.
The Hyderabad-based fashion designer has come a long, long way, and even if she had to take a long, difficult road to achieve her dreams, her creations are making waves across the globe. “I embraced the mindset of ‘doing’, being willing to make small mistakes and allowing circumstances to become my teacher,” she smiles. “Eventually, I realized that I had developed skills that surpassed what some of the highest educational institutions could offer,” she adds
Timeless designs, eco-friendly fashion
Geethika’s collections capture timeless sentiments with organic shapes, flowing fabrics and unique designs, creating an ambience that communicates volumes via touch and texture. “I intend to incorporate natural fabrics into occasion wear,” says Geethika, who is all about making her label eco-friendly and going zero waste. She also designs luxury craft items, tote bags from waste fabrics.
Her newly launched collection ‘Wilderness’, embraces the pure connection between Mother Earth and human emotions. “It captures timeless sentiments through organic shapes, flowing fabrics and unconventional designs,” says the 29-year-old. The heaviest piece in this collection took more than 300 working hours to create.
[caption id="attachment_47427" align="aligncenter" width="511"] The 'Gilded Noir saree set' (hand-embroidered, natural crepe) from the Wilderness collection[/caption]
She has done several exhibitions across the world, including Singapore and US, where she has a huge fan following. Her creations are also available at select stores in the US, UK and Dubai.
A childhood dream
Born in Chennai, Geethika always had a deep fasincation for clothing and fashion, and desired, deep down, to pursue a career that involved it. “Although I did not know what to call it at the time, I later discovered that people referred to this as being a Fashion Designer,” Geethika recalls.
She was so passionate about designing clothes that she would lock her door and play dress-up games on her computer instead of getting ready for school. “When I turned 14, I found myself contemplating how to become a fashion designer, but I had no idea where to begin. I was desperately searching for answers until a relative came into my life and showed me the path,” recalls Geethika, who did her schooling in Chettinaad Vidyashram, Chennai. She then moved to Hyderabad, where she has remained since.
A temporary deviation
However, when the time came to join the 11th grade, she encountered a common tradition in Hyderabad: the expectation to pursue either Engineering or MBBS (medical studies). “Anything other than these options was considered inadequate, and surpassing them was deemed abnormal. Unfortunately, I fell into this trap as well.”Since her math skills were not strong, Geethika chose to study BiPC as a compromise to satisfy the desires of those around me. “After completing my 12th grade, when I wanted to take the entrance exam for a Fashion Design college, everyone tried to convince me to pursue MBBS instead. It took great effort, but I managed to convince them and prepared for the entrance test,” says the ace fashion designer, who has been featured in many international magazines.
A health crisis
However, as she was looking forward to writing the entrance test to get admission in the fashion design institute, fate threw a severe health problem her way. Her vision began to blur. She was taken to various hospitals to find out what was wrong. “After visiting multiple hospitals, we finally discovered that it was anti-phospholipid syndrome, an irreversible immune system disorder that leads to abnormal blood clots,” informs Geethika.
[caption id="attachment_47428" align="aligncenter" width="482"] 'Animal' actor Rashmika Mandanna wearing a design by Geethika Kanumilli[/caption]
Losing vision in one of her eyes was an incredibly challenging and distressing period for Geethika and her family. A few months of medications later, she was ready to take her entrance exam. “Unfortunately, it was too late, and the registration had already closed until the following year. I had no choice but to wait. This tested my patience to the extreme, and it felt as if some greater force was at work.”
A time of uncertainty
Geethika ended up taking a one-year break, hoping the illness would ease. Nevertheless, her determination to become a fashion designer remained unshaken. The following year, she took the entrance test and got admission into the top Fashion Design college in Hyderabad. “Finally, nothing stood in the way of my dream. I was fully charged and motivated to make the most of this opportunity,” she says.
However, during her second year of college, the same health issue resurfaced and started to affect her working eye, particularly during stitching sessions. “Initially, I managed with the support of my classmates, but eventually, I realized that continuing like that was not feasible. It was at this moment that I recognised the need to let go of my dream of becoming a Fashion Designer permanently,” says Geethika, who felt helpless, and quitting college in the middle of her second year was a significant blow.
“People around me made fun of my decision, and I felt embarrassed for not having a degree. I endured insults and criticism, but I chose not to disclose my health issues to most of my relatives and friends. I didn't want to use it as an excuse.” It was an intense period of uncertainty, and Geethika spent an entire year feeling lost and exhausted from the cycle of quitting and resting.
However, one fine morning in 2015, she took a decision, regardless of the outcome. She decided to start my own fashion label as a designer. “I was only 20 then, without any professional work experience or a degree. Many people, including my own family, were against the idea of pursuing something different,” recalls Geethika.
Despite the challenges, she gathered the resources to start a small-scale business, targeting customers within a three-kilometer radius. “I had no prior knowledge or experience in running a business, but I was determined to learn as I went along.”
The initial days of running a business were incredibly challenging. “There were times when my vision would blur, and I would fear that each hard day of work would be my last day of sight. But whenever the choice to quit or continue arose, I was clear from the beginning that I was working for glory, not just for money,” she says.
After three years of consistent hard work, Geethika’s brand's customer base expanded to 12 countries and 45 cities through online sales. “This success brought appreciation from friends and family, who were unaware of the true reason why I had dropped out of college,” she says.
The creative process
When she begins to design a dress for a client, she approaches it with an intense thought: "This person must look their best wherever they go." Although it may sound simple, the intensity with which I think this thought is abnormally high. This mindset drives me to create the most unique color combinations possible,” she says of her work.
For Geethika, her clients are not just customers; they are the medium through which she expresses herself. “Their satisfaction and joy in wearing my designs fuel my passion and remind me that my journey as a fashion designer is far from over.”
Geethika believes her life taught her an important lesson. “When you achieve success, the flaws that others once saw in you become examples for them to follow. The secret is to remember this and strive to reach that point,” she feels.
Telling her story
While many of her friends and relatives were unaware why she had to drop out of college, Geethika revealed it through TEDx. “I have always desired to connect with individuals who may have experienced similar situations, believing that their pain is their enemy. However, looking back, I now understand that pain can be a friend. In my case, without the pain, I would not have been driven to achieve what I have today,” says the fashion designer.
(February 19, 2022) It’s never too late to discover the artist in you. Anjini Prakash Laitu, 80, picked up the brush and palette at 60. Today, he wows the world and goes by the moniker Colourman of Dubai. After working non-stop for four decades, Anjini decided his retired life would be for himself, and his deep love for art. He did play with colours on fabric for years, but within the confines of his home. The simmering desire to become a well-known Indian artist kept nudging at him. His second innings in life involved pursuing art - His vibrant paintings, which are full of life and colours evoking positive vibes. Exhibited in the UAE, India and Nepal, this late bloomer has found his true calling. Even at 80, Anjini loves his brushes, canvas and colours so much that he paints around seven-eight paintings a month. He has participated in exhibitions in Dubai, Jaipur, Mumbai, Nepal and Qatar and has regularly displayed his works at World Art Dubai, one of the biggest international art events. “I am also a member of the prestigious Emirates Fine Art Society. Dubai has given me so much love and respect for my work. I have
for my work. I have also been honoured with the prestigious Golden Visa from Ministry Of Culture Dubai," he beams with pride.
[caption id="attachment_20135" align="aligncenter" width="755"] Anjini began painting when he was 60 and hasn't looked back since[/caption]
Colours inspired by Mathura
Growing up in Mathura, Anjini’s love for colours began there. “My parents got us colours during summer holidays to keep us engaged. I never missed a chance to experiment with colours,” Anjini says in an interview with Global Indian.
Shantiniketan in West Bengal was a place where he dreamed about honing his skill and artistry. However, he couldn’t pursue his dream as his parents, (from an academic background) had a dim view of art. “My father was an electrical engineer and mother, a teacher. Those days painting was not a noble profession. So my parents did not agree,” recalls Anjini.
A different route
Bidding goodbye to the world of colours, he studied for a diploma in paper technology. He began working as an apprentice at a paper mill in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, where he worked with the Thapar Group for 37 years across various locations and positions.
The year 1996 brought with it the opportunity to move to Dubai to work for a glass bottle-making company, which is where he retired in 2001. Reinventing himself after retirement, he got back to his first love - art. “After my retirement, I did fabric painting with some Dubai designers, but the desire of being called a qualified Indian artist remained deeply embedded in my heart,” adds the artist.
Rise to stardom
He pushed the pedal and enrolled in Sharjah Art Institute in 2005 to hone his artistic skills, and became a “certified” artist within three years. In no time, his work started attracting art lovers.
[caption id="attachment_20130" align="aligncenter" width="771"] His work is inspired by the colours of Mathura, his hometown[/caption]
It was the Arab Cultural Club that gave him his first break for two solo exhibitions, one exclusively for canvas and the other for textile paintings. “This was when I entered into the art community as a fully qualified painter and there was no looking back,” he chuckles.
Anjini doesn’t believe in rules in the world of art. “I have been a painter who doesn’t believe in mathematics of 2 + 2 = 4. I advocate full freedom when we talk about art. My paintings should pass on positive energy, therefore the use of bright colours to make them lively. It’s also why I am lovingly called ‘Colourman’ in art fraternity,” the Indian artist explains.
Fabric painting
All through his working life, he kept his passion for art alive by painting motifs inspired by nature on dresses, shirts and sarees. “During the 60s, Fevicryl and Camlin started fabric colours. I experimented a lot with them. My wife preferred wearing only my hand-painted sarees. This made me quite an experienced fabric painter,” he adds.
In Dubai, he got the opportunity to work on fabric painting with some of the biggest names in haute couture like Akee and Walid Attalah. Shirts, denim, belts and shoes, had his customised motifs on them. Recently, he showcased his hand-painted saree collection at a fashion show at Dubai’s floating hotel Queen Elizabeth 2. “I am happy that painting is not my livelihood. I paint for my pleasure and happiness. Rest is a bonus and reward,” he smiles.
[caption id="attachment_20132" align="aligncenter" width="539"] As a fabric painter, Anjini has worked with some of the biggest names in haute couture[/caption]
Love for MF Husain
The legendary MF Husain greatly influenced Anjini. As a youngster, he would often travel from Yamuna Nagar to Delhi to meet his idol. “Either in Dhoomimall Art Gallery or Open Coffee House at Connaught Place. Fortunately, I also got a chance to meet my ustaad in Dubai when he shifted his base to the Middle East,” he adds.
Daily regimen
Three-four hours of painting daily, his weekends are for family. “I am also very fond of cooking, especially meat, or paani puri,dahi vada and some fusion dishes,” says the painter who likes a game of billiards once in a while.
“My plan for 2022 is to take part in the upcoming World Art Dubai and exhibit my new works on canvas and a fashion show of my hand-painted sarees,” the Indian artist reveals.
He’d like to leave his paintings to the next generation. Learning new things eggs him on, and he feels it’s important to let people, especially youngsters pursue their dreams, instead of waiting for decades like he did.
The 'Gilded Noir saree set' (hand-embroidered, natural crepe) from the Wilderness collection[/caption]
'Animal' actor Rashmika Mandanna wearing a design by Geethika Kanumilli[/caption]
Anjini began painting when he was 60 and hasn't looked back since[/caption]
His work is inspired by the colours of Mathura, his hometown[/caption]
As a fabric painter, Anjini has worked with some of the biggest names in haute couture[/caption]