photography by ALIKHAN
production by RADIK AYZHARIKOV
styling by AASTHA SHARMA
hair & makeup by MARI SHTEN

interview by YELENA DEYNEKO
shot at SAMODE PALACE, INDIA

India has such rich culture, heritage and history, and nothing embodies this more than our traditional bridal couture. And it’s not just art and design, the cut and construction, but also the details, colors, handwoven textiles, ornate and intricate embroideries – all help create a one-of-a-kind handcrafted masterpiece that stands to impress anyone.

All Clothing Rohit Bal
Earrings & Head Accessory Rawat Jewels
Necklace Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas

You were born and raised in India. What was it like?

Yes, I was born and raised in Baroda, a beautiful city in the state of Gujarat, and I have the most amazing memories which I would not trade for anything in this world. I’m the oldest of three kids, and my parents gave all three of us their love, time, affection, attention, knowledge and values. I grew up in what was considered an upper-middle-class family back then, and my dad’s mom lived with us, which was a blessing because of the special love and knowledge you get from having grandparents around.

left:
All Clothing Rahul Mishra
Necklace & Bangle Sunita Shekhawat
Head Accessory, Nose Ring & Earrings Birdhichand
Ghanshyamdas
right:
Top & Skirt Rimple & Harpreet Narula
Necklace & Earrings Kalajee Jewelry
Head Accessory & Ring Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
Nose Ring Sunita Shekhawat

Did your childhood influence your philanthropic work?

Absolutely. My family has been very involved with charity work, so it became a part of our lives early on to help the needy in any way possible. My mother’s father helped run a school in his village; and my mother supports a school for blind girls in my hometown, and her blind girls are as important to her as her own kids. She is one of the most giving souls I have ever known- she truly has a heart of gold!

Indian culture is beautiful, rich, colorful, and spiritual! What are your favorite traditions, beliefs, gods, places?

India is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse countries in the world. It is also the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, where 80 percent of the people are Hindus including myself. Hinduism equates God with the universe and yet has over 30 million gods and goddesses who personify aspects of the one true God. As Hindus, we value our gods and worship them in infinite different ways based on family tradition, community, regional practices and other considerations. The most important are the Hindu Trinity Gods: first, Brahma, the Creator, second, Vishnu, the Preserver and third, Shiva the Destroyer. My favorite gods since childhood are Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and Lord Ganesha.
We also have a lot of different traditions and customs, and a few of my favorite that I still try to practice are: when we start off new ventures, we pray to God with a small ceremony called Pooja. We show respect to elders, including parents, by touching their feet and asking for blessings. While I lived with my parents, I use to practice this daily before going to school, and especially on festive occasions or before any important task. The tradition of taking off our shoes before entering any house or holy places of worship is the one I still practice here in the U.S. And lastly the tradition of Rakhi, where every year sisters tie a band of protection on their brothers’ hands for good health and protection, and receive a gift in return from the brothers.

As a Hindu, I was taught to believe in reincarnation or coming back to life after death in a continuous circle of dying and rebirth, and in Karma, which is based largely on what you did while alive, good and bad. The belief is that Karma determines what level and what form you will take when being reborn. With good Karma, you are reborn as human or even God. But the ultimate goal of a Hindu is to reach Nirvana. It’s the releasing of the soul from a cycle of reincarnations and rebirths.
My favorite places to visit are UNESCO sites, which have ancient architectural significance. Most temples are located along magnetic wave lines of the earth, which help to maximize the available positive energy. I love the Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple, monasteries in Ladakh and the Great Himalayan National Park.

left:
Lehenga & Blouse Manish Malhotra
Dupatta Monika Nidhii
Necklace & Earrings The Gem Palace
Bracelet Sunita Shekhawat
Ring Umrao Jewels
Head Piece Rawat Jewels
right:
Top & Skirt Shyamal & Bhumika
Earrings Sunita Shekhawat
Necklace Umrao Jewels
Ring Bracelet & Arm Bracelet Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
Buttons & Earrings Rawat Jewels

You’re wearing all traditional bridal outfits in our story.

Yes, most of the traditional ensembles in the story are bridal couture. India has such rich and rare culture, heritage and history, and nothing embodies this more than our traditional bridal couture. It’s not surprising to most that India holds its very own Couture Week. Bridal couture here is not just about the art and design, the cut and construction, or all the versatile draping, but it’s also about the fineries like all the detailing and the finish. Beautiful colors, luxuriant fabrics, handwoven textiles, intricate and ornate embroideries all help create a one-of-a-kind handcrafted masterpiece that stands to impress at any moment.
Indian bridal couture is usually a collection of multiple different ensembles with different styles worn on different days of the wedding, depending on the ceremonies. Indian weddings can range anywhere from three to five days, with multiple ceremonies on each day. So the bride, including most guests, would need four to eight different creations for one wedding.

You are happily married. Tell us about your wedding.

My wedding was very simple and quiet, a sunset wedding on the beach with a sand ceremony and only two guests – my brother and sister. Even though it was over ten years ago, I can still remember those 15 minutes as if they were just yesterday. I wore a simple David’s Bridal white gown but with intricate lace details that I bought literally five hours before the wedding. It’s very surprising and ironic to some people that, being Indian, I didn’t have a traditional Indian wedding with bridal couture; but to be honest, I have never worn any traditional Indian couture in my life before this shoot for Spirit & Flesh. My family and friends will be surprised to see me wearing bridal couture!

left:
All Clothing Anita Dongre
Head Band & Bracelet Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
Top Necklace, Bracelet, & Ring Umrao Jewels
Bottom Necklace The Gem Palace
right:
All Clothing Anamika Khanna
Ring Bracelet & Ring Rawat Jewels
Necklace, Earrings, Head Accessory & Belt Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas

You now live in the U.S. How has your lifestyle changed? 

I have been living in the U.S. since 2003, and the lifestyle here is definitely very different compared to India. It has its pros and cons, but overall I think compared to India, the quality of life here is much more enjoyable and peaceful. Each day, I get to breathe the clean air, see the beautiful blue sky, and watch the amazing sunrises and sunsets.
We tend to take these things for granted here, while in India, the air pollution is so high that it’s hard to breathe or see the blue sky, forget watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. The only downside is the monotonous and fixed routine of the workweek and not having much family around. Back in India, the lifestyle is a bit more chaotic and spontaneous. I don’t have fixed routines, but it is very lively at any time during the year since we are surrounded by so much family and there’s always something to celebrate.

What is your comment on womanhood?

I think being a woman today compared to previous generations means going beyond what our mothers thought was possible. I was raised to be a confident woman and to believe that I can do anything, be anything – whatever I could dream or imagine was within my reach if I did the hard work and had the determination to achieve it. My dad said to me, “Sky’s the limit and the world is yours if you are bold enough to take it”. Women today can use their voice to empower other women for positive change since there is unprecedented access to technology and social media across all demographics of society. I see more and more women are balancing choice with obligation, helping other women achieve their aspirations because it’s just as important as achieving our own.
The landscape is quite different in the U.S. for women compared to India or any other developing countries. Here, gender diversity and equality are more widely recognized, as more women at the top of their professions are helping shape the future of equality across all fields and disciplines. They are breaking more and more glass ceilings. Most women in India or other parts of the world are not as fortunate, but I think that’s changing and I am optimistic that we will get to a point of equality for women around the world of all races, religions and ages within the next decade.

left:
All Clothing Tarun Tahiliani
Necklace The Gem Palace
Earrings Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
Nose Ring & Bracelet Jaipur Jewels
right:
All Clothing Varun Bahl
All Jewelry Rawat Jewels

You employ fashion to support people in need. Please tell us about Couture For Cause?

I have always had an affinity to haute couture for as long as I understood fashion, and I greatly appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity associated with its creations. Using my passion for fashion and integrating that with some philanthropic work was something I had dreamed of literally before I started my nonprofit organization Couture For Cause last year. Couture For Cause is where Haute fashion meets philanthropic passion. Our mission statement is to find and support incredible causes and charities that strengthen communities and have a positive impact, using couture fashion, generosity and kindness.
It is an online platform where we can raise money for meaningful causes, auctioning off couture, lifestyle items and experiences in exchange for donations. These donations go directly to the causes we support. The couture items or experiences are donated to Couture For Cause by generous fashionistas whose closets are overflowing with couture fashion (currently it is just my collection) in exchange for the feeling of contentment!
Even before we wait to officially launch, we have had multiple silent auctions of couture and runway items, and have raised thousands of dollars for other charities. When I formed Couture For Cause, I had a very clear vision of its purpose. The most important objective was to make a real difference and positive impact on the lives of people in need. I knew that we might not be able to reach each and every soul, but I sincerely believed that I could make a significant contribution to other charities that help millions in need. Even though I might not be able to change the whole world, for the ones I can help, I hope I might have changed their entire world. Our hashtag is #givefashionably.

You recently raised quite a bit for Pencils of Promise.

I became an advisory board member for Pencils of Promise in January of this year. There are many important and deserving charities and they all do incredible work, but my husband and I have always given education the highest priority. We believe education is the single most powerful tool that can change the world, reduce poverty, reduce violence and diseases, and empower people.
We chose Pencils of Promise (a.k.a., POP) because it’s a global education organization that builds schools and provides quality educational programs in underdeveloped countries like Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaragua. They are truly changing what learning experience can be for a child through the schools they build, their teacher support, their WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programs and local government involvement. Also POP is special to me because of its story and how it was inspired during (founder) Adam Braun’s trip to India over ten years ago, when a beggar boy asked him for a pencil. Adam reached in his bag and gave the boy a pencil, only to see his face light up with joy. After that, Adam traveled to almost 50 countries giving away pencils, and in ten years, they have over 470 schools around the world that educate over 87,000 students! Kids are our future, and there are over 250 millions kids around the world who don’t have any access to education. I think that if we all contributed in some way, there will be a day in our lifetime when every child on this earth will have access to quality education, and we should not stop until we have achieved this basic goal!
Since last year, we helped raise over $300,000 dollars just for Pencils of Promise alone, and will continue to do so for POP as well as other meaningful causes that need help raising money.

left:
All clothing Anita Dongre
Head Band and bracelet Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers
Necklace (top), bracelet (as armband), and ring Umrao Jewels
Necklace (bottom) The Gem Palace
right:
All clothing Rimple & Harpreet Narula
Necklace (top) Amrapali
Necklace (bottom) Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers
Hair accessory Umrao Jewels

right:
All Clothing Rimple & Harpreet Narula
Necklace (top) Amrapali
Necklace (bottom) Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
Head Accessory Umrao Jewels
Earrings Rawat Jewels

CoutureForCause.Org / Haute Fashion Meets Philanthropic Passion / @CoutureForCause / #GiveFashionably