Keeping the heritage of the havelis alive
With House of Badnore’s rich offerings of fabrics, jewels and art objects, blueblooded entrepreneur Rani Archana Kumari has successfully combined thecenturies-old legacy of her family with a spectacular modern aesthetic. The world of refinement as we see today owes its allegiance to the myriad craft studios and art ateliers that thrived within the forts, palaces […]
DUSSEHRA AND THE ROYALTY
Dussehra, for royal families in the country, is all about celebrating their lineage and traditions. While for most, it is a time to worship and rejoice, for a rare few, it is a time to mourn as well. The thrill of knowing they are direct descendants of mythological heroes, a love for their arms and […]
Chiffon sari: A fabric that defines Rajput women
It is the one fabric royal Rajput ladies were known to historically patronise and wear everyday with élan. When holidaying in the Swiss Alps, enjoying at an open-air garden party in winter or even when seated inside their plush palace in Rajasthan, the one thing that would drape around their beautiful self would be chiffon. […]
PRINCE, PATRON AND PATRIARCH
An insider’s perspective of the magnificent Jagatjit Palace. A book reminiscing the iconic life of the last ruling Maharaja of Kapurthala, HH Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, authored by his grandson, Brigadier HH Sukhjit Singh, and historian Cynthia Meera Frederick captures the life of this truly evolved monarch. The Daily Guardian catches up with the co-author, who […]
A LEGACY KEEPER WHO IS WEAVING TOGETHER PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
With a treasure trove of royal influences and a zest for reviving heritage styles, Kunwarani Ritu Sinh’s brand of festive wear is tailored for the modern era. A quiet worker, a born stylista, an former supermodel and daughter-in-law of the Wankaner royal family, Kunwarani Ritu Sinh can be best defined as a firebrand with the […]
Decoding Victorian costumes in India
The influence of Victorian costuming is evident in many silhouettes adapted by the Indian princely states during the Raj era. From the mandatory gloves which had to be worn, while offering courtesy to the visiting monarch during the Delhi Durbar, to the long overcoats, embellished and embroidered in gold and worn over breeches and sharp […]
A clothing line which cares for rural well-being
Shubhangana and Veerangana Jamnia’s brand, Dor, is not only keeping the legacy of craft alive,but also promoting sustainable clothing and supporting rural development. “While many 15-year-olds were chasing their medical or engineering dreams, I was fascinated by the Arthashastra, an Indian treatise on statecraft written by Chanakya, especially the role rulers played in nurturing their […]
Breaking free from conventional images of royal jewellery
Namrata Singh’s versatile jewellery is created with her innate and inherited sense of design and seeks to showthat the definition of ‘royal’ jewellery is not set in stone. “The noble and royal families of India, especially the Rajputs, very consciously adapted to European jewellery settings, to the famed Victorian styles of blending silver with gold and making stones, precious […]
THE ARTISTIC LEGACIES BORN IN ROYAL KAARKHANAS
Royal families in India have been known for patronising distinct art forms and nurturing legendary palace studios. It is their patronage which went on to produce renowned artists like Raja Ravi Varma and Nihal Chand. The royals’ tryst with opulent design is historic. Anything they touch must be made in gold and encrusted with diamonds […]
POSHAK: PRIDE OF RAJPUT WOMEN
It is a symbol of Rajput festivity, the only ensemble the bride will ever wear. Even if she can well afford and order a lehenga from the Sabyasachi Atelier, the Rajput bridal ensemble Poshak is the most poetic of all in the Indian wear segment. And one that has been worn by Rajput women at […]