NEW SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION 2015 FROM FUSION BEATS IS FOR THE FREE SPIRITED

 What can we say! We simply love the spring-summer 2015 collection of Fusion Beats, from the house of Creative Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd.  It's all free-spirited and bohemian. Here's a look at the collection:

 The Denim Studio: key staples of the season in traditional denim.  Vests, gypsy skirts, dungarees in shades of true blue denim - stonewash blues to dark indigos. What makes it different? Prints and motifs from paisley floral to Aztec influences.

 The Truck Art inspired by the indigenous Indian art. Funky and gypsy  — with embroidery, Kutch quilting and a tinkle of smocked skirt with detailed handwork in  ochre yellow with highlights of scarlet reds and cobalt blue. We love the floral, stripes and truck motifs.

Chalkboard Tribe collection takes inspiration from the classic black and white, done in tribal pattern. Flowy dresses in monochrome palette to Ikat inspired swirls and Aztec placements with lace trims. 

Club Tropicana collection: Chic dresses, bold embroideries and placement prints in resort style. Jades and fern greens are trimmed with bold colours —  yellows, corals and midnight sea-blues. Prints are tropical with bold geometrics supporting the beach palm trees. There’s a mix-n-match at play of tropical florals.

The Shibori collection: Traditional Japanese Shibori blended with rhythmical baroque. Bright indigos highlighted with hints of yellow.

 

The Earth Deco collection: Inspired by earth and has flattering cuts which are constructed out of panels of organic linens and viscose. Metal tassels, attractive Aztec tapes, traditional pom-poms and beadwork offer interesting details.

 

The Tribal Mix: The famous Aztec influence mixed with geometric ikat continues to stand out. This collection has shades of bright rouge and turquoise with accent of jades and navy.

The collection is priced at Rs.1500 onwards. 

Ps: This is NOT a paid write - up. 

TOWNS SHAPED BY NATURE

An icy island in Stockholm

Many travellers tend to seek attractions of the manmade variety: art and architecture, food and music, history and culture. But sometimes the most intriguing towns and cities are those where the topographies have been shaped by nature, often with striking, surreal results. To find the most dramatic natural locations where people actually live, we turned to question and answer site Quora, asking: “What are the world’s most geographically and topographically interesting cities and towns?”

From cave dwellings carved out of volcanic rock to an entire town built in a meteorite crater, these destinations are like nothing most travellers have ever laid eyes on. Read More

SATURDAY RECIPE — VIETNAMESE CARAMELISED FISH

Ingredients

Mud Fish (family of snakehead fishes) or boneless Basa fish (type of catfish) - 300 gm
Cooking Oil-60 ml
Spring onion (chopped and whole)-50 gm
Fish Sauce-40 ml
Coconut Milk-200 ml
White sugar-50 gm
Salt-1 gm
Black Pepper - 2gms

Method

1. Dissolve sugar (40gms) in fish sauce.
2. Marinate fish with black pepper, spring onion and sugar-fish sauce mixture.
3. Keep aside for 30 minutes but do not exceed beyond 1hr 30 minutes. 
4. Add sugar to the pan and caramelise to golden amber colour. 
5. Then add the fish and fry for 5 -7 min on each side and add coconut milk.
6. Serve it in a clay pot.

HAPPY COOKING :)

STUNNING EYE MAKEUP OR IS IT ART?

Anti-bullying. Words can be dangerous, use them wisely.
All photos in this post is courtesy of  Tal Peleg

She tells stories — about depression, dementia, bullying...and sometimes even classic tales like Snow White or the Little Red Riding Hood — using a bit of eye shadow, eyeliner and false eyelashes even.

Tal Peleg, a in-her-twenties make-up artist and graphic designer from Israel, uses eye-art (artistic makeup and illustrations on the eye) to give voice to issues that she cares about; and which capture her imagination.

Fruity eye

Tal, who has been painting from the time she could hold a brush, grew up a typical teenager loving make-up. She enrolled in a make-up school. But, she also loved art. So, after make-up school, she studied four "hard and demanding" years of visual communication. Then, the conundrum: "Should I become a full-time make-up artist or a graphic designer? I was confused," says Tal. In the end, she combined her passion for art and make-up — she became an eye-artist.

On Tal's deep-set sea-blue eyes, make-up — the capote of vanity — morphs into a medium for powerful narration. "I use make-up to express feelings," she says. Tal's canvas is small, delicate and difficult, but tells influential stories.

The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to

A young girl touched by Tal's eye-art — the one inspired by her grandma's illness — writes her a long email. "Her grandmother too was suffering from dementia," remembers Tal. "It is a good feeling. To know that make-up can influence people and touch them at a deep emotional level."

Tal at work

Eye art is difficult. Patience of saintly proportions is a pre-requisite. It takes Tal one to three hours and more to complete an image, depending on the complexity of a design. And she doesn't rest till the work is complete. "It is challenging sometimes to stay put in one place for hours and paint," says Tal.

She believes that "inspiration is everywhere — from fairytales to books, pretty flowers and favourite food." Or even things that she finds interesting and challenging. Like the story of Anne Frank or anti-bullying or manic depression.

She paints at least one image a week; photographs it and posts it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (where she has thousands of followers) before washing it away. Her art is transient, but it initiates crucial discourse and remains in the realm of social consciousness long after the make-up flows down the drain. "This is my art," affirms Tal. However fleeting it might be. Her art tells universal stories.

Hope for a better future. Art created for cancer awareness campaign

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music

See Tal Peleg's work on Facebook.com/talpelegmakeup

Instagram.com/talpeleg

Twitter.com/talpeleg

FOOD WALKS IN BANGALORE #NTNEWS

Bangalore is a foodie's delight. There are foods of all kinds and all kinds of food walks. Here's a list of food walks from Unhurried 

Walk	Date	Time	Cost (per person)	Category
The Biryani walk	March 7, 2015	5.00 PM	Rs 999	Neighbourhood history, people & food
The Bungalow walk	March 14, 2015	8.00  AM	Rs 550	Local history
Tipu Sultan’s Bangalore Saga	March 22, 2015	TBA	Rs 999	Old City History
Nagartapete Walk	March 29, 2015	TBA	Rs 550/-	Old City, communities, culture

You want to attend one of these walks, then mail reachus@unhurried.in. 

Unhurried also conducts private walks or  day tours for you. They just need at least two people for a walk and a group of three to four people for a day tour. 

PINCHED WAISTS, BIG BUSTS AND BIGGER HIPS — BRING ON THE CORSETS

 Lace Corset with ruffles Rs. 2295

I didn't know (and I bet your last herringbone that you didn't either) till I began researching the subject of corsets that men too wore corsets to change the appearance of their bodies. Why they wanted pinched waists? Beats me! 

Corsets reached 'rock-star' status during Queen Victoria's time. It did take the corset a long time (longer than it took Jim Carrey to achieve stardom) to reach its zenith from the time it made its first appearance circa 2000 BC. However initially, it was worn as an outer garment and slowly made its way 'under' — it was first worn as an under garment in Italy and the women of the French court embraced it. Oh, these stylish French women, I tell you! They always get to it first :)

By mid-sixteenth century the British too began using corsets to appear pinched in all the right places. So what if it cut off the windpipes of some, their waists looked 'small'. 

Pen.ny Satin Corset with ruffles Rs. 2295

As years passed by the corset lost out to the bra and then the bras lost out to the hippies and the feminists. Before the latter was adopted (along with shoulder pads), with zest, by 'office girls'. But the corset remained at the back of the closet — all but forgotten, until now.

It seems there is a sort of a revival of the corset — maybe not as a daily wear, but still it is making its presence felt. Could it be because of some 50 shades of grey that seems to have taken over the world? 

But, all said and done, corsets make foreplay fun and adventurous. Admit it, okay. We know. We have been there and done that :)

Pen.ny Classic Satin Corset Rs. 1995

We came across a glamorous range of corsets (the photos ain't doing justice to the 'glamour' quotient) from Pen.ny a private label of Zivame.com . Pick the one you wish to pinch your waist and exaggerate that bust and hips of yours — lo behold... you have an hourglass figure. We liked the ornate lace ones, the diamante crystal encrusted ones are pretty and the satin ones luxurious. 

Classic Satin Corset Rs. 1995

 Satin Corset with Diamante Crystals Rs. 2295 

Rich Jacquard Corset Grey Rs. 2195

Pen.ny  Satin Corset with Diamante Crystals. Rs. 2295

COMIC CON 2015 TO BE HELD IN APRIL IN BANGALORE

Comic Con India is all set to host Bangalore Comic Con 2015 in April. This year the convention will be spread across 80000 sq feet with over 200 participants from across the world.

Bangalore Comic Con 2015 will be hosting one of its kind, interactive and experiential over 50 Hours of Programming through panels, launches, gaming, video hangouts and more. JASON LATOUR, famous international comic book artist and writer, known for his work WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN (vol. 2) will be attending the event.

There will also be two exclusive live chats (via SKYPE) with MARK MILLAR & GREG CAPULLO.

Mark Millar is the writer of  the New York Times bestselling novel Wanted. His other works include Kick-Ass series, The Secret Service, Jupiter’s Legacy, Nemesis, Superior, Super Crooks, American Jesus, MPH, Starlight, and Chrononauts. Wanted, Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2 and The Secret Service (as Kingsman: The Secret Service) have been adapted into feature films, and Nemesis, Superior, Starlight, War Heroes, and Chrononauts are in development at major studios. Mark has been an Executive Producer on all his movie adaptations and is currently creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies.  

Greg Capullo is a self taught Illustrator and the current artist on the best-selling and highly acclaimed BATMAN series for DC Comics. Prior to that, he was best known for his 80 issue run on Image Comics' SPAWN, created by Todd McFarlane. Other popular comics work includes Marvel Comics X-FORCE and QUASAR. He is also the creator of The Creech, a Sci-Fi/Horror comic published by Image Comics. Greg has contributed lead character designs for the the award winning HBO animated SPAWN series, was the cover artist for many popular musical groups including Korn and Disturbed, and worked behind the scenes on many projects ranging from toy design to video games for TME.

One of the main attraction at Bangalore Comic Con 2015 will be The Game of Throne’s special Photo-op Booth. Comic Con India has officially tied up with HBO to bring the Throne replica exclusively at Bangalore Comic Con. There will be a Throne replica as a special photo - op where the fans & visitors can get their pictures clicked.

Cosplay (Costume Contest), another  major attraction at Comic Con India, will continue to give assured prizes to everyone in costume. Comic Con India has created 5 categories to increase one’s chances of winning gifts. Each day, one winner will be chosen from each of the five categories: Comic book/graphic novel; Animated Series/Movie; Manga/Anime; Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Gaming. One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 will get a chance to win a ticket to an Awesome destination & a chance to enter in Indian Cosplay Championship!

For the first time ever, Comic Con India Awards will be given at the convention — on the second day.

Besides, Comic Con India will be be setting up an exclusive Gaming Zone and it will be spread across 200 sq meter.

Also, 8 new titles are being planned to get launched at the convention. Marvel, DC & Dark Horse Comics among others will be bringing in the international content.

There will also be interesting Anime and Manga merchandise from Japanese Merchandiser IINE, along with the best and most exclusive International merchandisers like Kidrobot, NECA, Hot Toys, Mimobots, Funko and many more from across the globe. They will participate alongside Indian merchandisers including — Band Box, Wacom, Art Beat, Bewakoof Brands, Hysteria, Wear Your Opinion, Kudi Firang, Planet Superheroes, F Gali, Sky Goodies, Bollyscope, Lazy Ninja, Graphicurry, Below the Belt and lots more!!

The main participants for the Bangalore Comic Con 2015 are Amar Chitra Katha, Orange Radius, Pop Culture Publishing, Random House, Campfire Graphic Novel, Holy Cow Entertainment, HarperCollins Publishers, Aayumi Productions, Raj Comics, Blossom Book House and many more!!

Get ready to celebrate comics and pop culture.

• For  Bangalore Comic Con 2015, tickets will be available online via Book My Show as well as at the Venue.  
• Only a limited number of VIP tickets will be issued.
• The tickets would be priced at Rs. 350 Per day (Online); Rs. 450 Per day (at the venue) and Rs. 999 for the Super Fan VIP Ticket for all 3 days.
• Super Fan ticket offer is available in limited numbers and can be booked online only, these will not be available at the venue.
• Other than the Discount, The SuperFan Ticket Holder will also get: Special Entry (No Registration Required); Super Fan Customised CAPE & Special Offers/Discounts from over 20 brands exhibiting at the show!

 Venue: White Orchid Convention Centre; Date: April 3-5; Time: 11 am to 9 pm

MANGANIYAR SEDUCTION — PHOTO STORY OF TRADITIONAL RAJASTANI MUSIC

Roysten Abel's Manganiyar Seduction. All photos courtesy Sudha Pillai

The first time I was introduced to the Manganiyar's music (which has been around for centuries) was through theatre director Roysten Abel's breathtaking production called the Manganiyar Seduction. (A few years later I was also stumped by the beauty of another one of his productions, the Manganiyar classroom). 

Manganiyar Seduction transported me to a different world. When the screens opened to reveal 43 musician, seated in 36 red-curtained cubicles arranged in four horizontal rows one on top of the other — like a magic box, I was forever sold on the magic of the Manganiyars. I later came to know that Roy's set was a combination of the Hawa Mahal and the Red light district of Amsterdam. When the concert begins, a single cubicle light goes on and the first singer begins his song. Soon another cubicle lights up and another and another — there's a build of musical instrumnents and the stirring soulful voices of the singers. Soon you are transported into a different world. Even if you can't understand a word of what they are singing. Like me. 

My obsession with the Manganiyars took me on a path to know more about these wonderful musicians. The Manganiyars are Sunni Muslims from the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. They sing, essentially, about Hindu gods.  They traditionally invoke the Hindu god Krishna before beginning their recital — as they have been doing it for centuries. Earlier they would peform for kings and would be called upon to entertain the troops before and after a battle. Later, they began singing for wealthy patrons. In fact the community is divided into two — where one group sings for wealthy Hindu patrons and the other, Muslim patrons. They sing ballads, Sufi poems and have a song for occassions of life like births, deaths and marriages. 

Many mistake them for folk musicians. They are not. Their music is classical. Their music has roots in the classical music of India. And they have music in their blood. It is said that  children come out of their mother's womb singing — in a way the children are exposed to music in their wombs, because the women of the community play dhol and sing. The child is forever cocooned in the lap of music. 

The Manganiayars play an instrument called the kamaicha — a bowed stringed instrument with skin membrane sounding boards and many strings. It is made of mango wood. The big, round hollow part on one end is covered with goat sking. It has 17 stings out of which three special strings are made from goat's intestine and the rest of the 14 strings are made up of steel. The bow is made out of horse's hair. They also play the dholak — a double-headed barrel drum. morchan or the jaw harp, the harmonium and the kartal or wooded clappers — these are made of Sheesham wood. 

The Manganiyars are an ancient community of hereditary musical performers from Rajasthan. Though they are Muslims their lifestyle, is said to be that of Hindus — a perfect symbol of communal harmony.

 Apparently, like the traditional Jews, the Manganiyars never intermarry or teach their music to other communities. Lets hope their soulful, full throated voices and stirring music will fill the dessert air of Rajasthan and beyond for ages to come. 

— NILA

TRENDSETTER — YASIN DENMAMODE, FASHION DESIGNER FROM MAURITIUS

TRENDSETTERS is a new series in Nila Tamaraa Fashion that focuses on people who march to their own drumbeat. Kick-starting the series is the ebullient Yasin Denmamode, a young fashion designer, of menswear, from Mauritius. 

From Boy Groove collection. All photographs in this blogpost is courtesy BOY GROOVE

Yasin Denmamode grew up in the beautiful island nation of Mauritius where his mother was a stylist. When Yasin was only 14, his mother decided to open a shop of her own. Since then fabrics and embroideries have been a part of Yasin’s life. “I grew up in this environment — watching and silently learning from her,” Yasin tells us from Mauritius, where he is now a young and ‘rocking-the-island’ kinda fashion designer with his own brand of clothing called BOY GROOVE.

Necessity is the mother of all inventions, might be a cliché, but in Yasin’s case, it is true to his leather soles. In September 2012, when he returned home after completing his education abroad, he met his longtime friend David Stafford. “I started complaining that I couldn’t find clothes for me here (in Mauritius),” recalls Yasin. “Everything seemed to be insipid or mass produced or both. David too had the same problem.” The duo decided to do something about it — two months later, on the 12th December 2012, they opened the doors of Boy Groove to the world. “Basically, Boy Groove started over coffee and complaints…” laughs Yasin.

Yasin is not too kind about men’s fashion in Mauritius. “Men’s fashion is highly limited here. There’s a tendency for uniformity and practicality; there’s very little creativity for menswear here.”

He and David, along with  Boy Groove, plan to change all that. “People should understand that dressing up like everyone else is NOT fashion,” says Yasin who always stood out in a crowd. (Read what was written about him a few years ago HERE).

Originality is the mission statement of Boy Groove. “When anyone walks into the shop, he should be able to find at least a pair of jeans and something to go with it for an affordable price — and he should be able to be different from the masses." (At BOY GROOVE the price range is between Rs.350-1200)

The signature style of Boy Groove is a blend of Yasin’s and David’s “totally different and diametrically opposed tastes”. David is more pop - rock (think Jeremy Scott, coco Rocha and Naomi Campbell; “He swears by them, day and night.”) and Yasin is glam- chic (think Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins). Yes, Yasin’s inspirations and fashion icons are timeless WOMEN. Inspired by the warp and weave of their style he designs MENSWEAR. Now, how cool is that!

 “We do get inspired (by what’s on the international fashion ramps) but we hate trends,” says Yasin. Thank god, for small mercies!

 Boy Groove makes it a point to have only limited editions of all their clothing. “We never make more than five pieces of a model,” says Yasin. This season, Boy Groove is focusing on their new line of kurtas — light, airy, with embroidery and sober. The line would be out in June. By December, they are planning a Jeremy Scott inspired collection.

Ask Yasin what’s the one thing about fashion that sticks out for him and he will have you know that it is the ability of the fashion industry being the only industry which still offers possibilities to create. “And has space for originality without many constraints. New ideas, blends, fabrics and methods are always coming up. Also, for ages, fashion has been a way of changing society, helping it move forward. The fashion industry even expressed and supported some movements that have directed the course of history. It is one of the rare domains where influences of many cultures clash to give birth to beauty. All these aspects of the fashion world show that it has many faces and goals than just ‘dressing up people’.”

And in their own way, Yasin and David are making their contribution to men’s fashion in their homeland. They have cast a lil’ stone in this island nation, which is bound to have a ripple effect in times to come.

BOY GROOVE, 10, Dr.Hassen Sakir St (Ex Pagoda St), Plaine Verte, Port Louis, Mauritius.

TEL: +230 5 9710855/ 5 4733798

ON THE SIDELINE WITH Yasin Denmamode

Yasin De Nmamode

Favourite fashion icon:  The greatest fashion icon of all times is and will always be Elizabeth Taylor. She was fashion, fashion was her. She could wear everything and carry it off. In case of doubt, just overload everything with diamonds and it works. Who else would have dared so that? Whatever her look was, whatever she was wearing was instantly a hit of her personality.

Joan Collins also falls in that category, and I admire her for the same reasons. She was the one who made shoulder pads a thing in the 80’s. Without shoulder pads, vintage couldn’t exist today and it’s all due to her…

Then of course, there’s the very under-rated Elsa Schiaparelli. In a time when fashion was rather conventional, she brought the “shocking pink”; she was the first one to have a theme collection. She overturned many rules and imposed her new ones which are still being respected today. Sadly, very little credit is given to her for her contribution…

Favourite garment: My Cashmere cape, without any doubt! It goes with absolutely everything!

One piece of clothing I cannot live without: The day I lose my Courrèges-cut turquoise raincoat, I think my life would be over. I stumbled across it in a thrift shop at a time when my wardrobe was quite limited, and finding it was a sign that the situation wouldn’t last for long. It really has brought me luck!

Favourite accessory: Right now, it is my phone and its various casings.

Favourite designer: Right now, it is Ron Dutta.

One piece of fashion statement men shouldn’t shy away from: Low cut slim or skinny jeans. How come it hasn’t yet become THE modern man iconic wear?

One piece of clothing men shouldn't be caught dead in: Baggy jeans. Never, EVER, EVER, EVER wear those if you want to have your respectability intact. And forget the coloured jeans. It’s ‘has-been’ now.

Right corporate attire that is not boring would be: Classic with a touch of flashy. Once, I advised the Editor-in-chief of a newspaper to wear a black suit, white shirt, fuchsia tie and laces of his black shoes matching the tie. It worked wonders.

The right date outfit for a guy: Skinny jeans. Paired with anything ranging from a slim cut shirt with flowery prints or a body fit T-shirt. Throw on a blazer, depending on where you will be…

Current trend in men’s fashion: Cartoons and video-games characters printed on over-sized T-Shirts. THE look to sport this season.

You’d like to be born again as: Elsa Schiaparelli just to be able to impose new ideas and new trends.

For Yasin’s Native Insight on Mauritius, click here