D for Dressing up @ Bangalore Fashion Week

Models getting prepped up before walking the ramp for Bangalore Fashion Week. Backdoor access is not for everyone and I got to see some exclusive candid shots.

It is a tough world when you have to get dressed up and walk out in under 180 secs and a thousand cameras, eyes, lights, high resolution super zoom cameras are aimed at you and even a small smirk, blemish is blown up and seen in a magnifying glass. There was noise, there was chaos, shouting, calling, dusting, foundation, changing, smiling, chattering, texting, eating, drinking, napping and snapping yet there was some sense of peace when professionals went about doing their jobs in calm fluid like motion where they were delivering with excellence and perfection and while the model walked out to the ramp in full glowing bulb lit six feet wide ramp and enjoyed the glory of 30 seconds the team just moved on to another model, washing, wiping, removing, adding, prepping and continued the rhythm. It shouldn't stop, it shouldn't pause; you cannot rest, you cannot fail as the show... must go on. There is so much pressure, so much tension but there is professionalism, so much positive psyche in the room as well.

Life is actually so fast and things happen so fast. If you are not ready to keep up, it will crush you, demolish you and discard you like a banana peel under a truck tire. So there should be enough practice, enough momentum and learn to adapt as quickly as possible. 

Let me connect you from the world of fashion to the workplace, train yourself in your field and keep learning even after you have been at work for a few years. Learn to be ahead of your game. Whenever there is a recession, downsizing guess who will stay and who will go! There is no excuse for being lazy or recluse. Learn the skills of the game. In today's momentary blink and miss it world, every second counts.

Also be a great team player. You need to learn to work with others, be helpful and be nice and charming in your work. Dress up to the occasion and you never know how things can turn out to be. A prepared, dressed up, planned model is more classy and relaxed. Time to get ready. So dress up!

#AtoZChallenge
#ConsumerPsyche
#DressingUp
#PositivePsychologist

Where most interesting things happen

Where most interesting things happen. Where it is okay to spice up, where it is okay to shut up, where it is okay to slurp, where it is okay to lick, dunk and use the knife. Where it is okay to listen to the same story again, where it is okay to munch, to skip answering a question. Where it is okay to show your report card when mom serves dad's favorite dish. Where it is okay to ask for more and be served. Where it is okay to look forward to another round just after you are done. 

Where a family shares food, love, pleasure, memories, recipes, cuisines, things beyond human expression. Where care is shown through the smiles and extra dollops of ghee on your dal roti, where appreciation is a clean plate asking for more, where satisfaction is a loud burp and an 'excuse me' among giggles. Where manners are taught, values are learnt, caring and sharing is a way of life. Where you learn to love, live, learn, unlearn, decisions are taken, discussions are heard, where coffee and tea are things that keep you awake till the ones you care for share their thoughts. 

Where cleaning the last session is the beginning of a new meal, a new adventure, a new conversation and a fresh recipe for a family to bond. That is the most common discussion table, conference table, sports arena, laboratory of your mom's and brother's culinary adventures. That is your dining room. 

Every dining room has a story. A story that is unique, real, lively, scary, welcoming and warm. Just because we don't get angry over food and talk a lot, we can disclose most annoying things and get away. Like a progress card, like an affair, a break up, a transfer, a confession, a fight and many more. We all have been there and yet not been there recently. When was the last time you did something outstanding at your dining table? What is your dining room story? 

When you build your home, make your dining a pleasant experience, without the boring TV with a lot of light, air, ventilation and space for your loved ones. For food is an amazing bond between families and you will never forget your home food and your place at dining table where the seat still exists, for you, waiting....

Recycle: Give it its due

Once you are done with using anything, dispose it responsibly. Recycle or help recycle.

Done is better than perfect

Done is better than perfect.

Think about it. Done is better than perfect. Most of the times I see work being postponed is because people tend to say that they would come back to it later as they aren't satisfied with what is there. I realize the need for accuracy and perfection in what I do and I would always love to be proud of what I goes out of my inbox. I have seen meetings get postponed because the designs aren't as perfect as they should be. But the fact that deadlines are to be met and seeking perfection, if it delays and stretches the deadlines, is defeatist. There are several things that might lead you to believe you need to relook at the work, but I suggest meeting the deadlines as more important. For if I don't meet a deadline, the beauty and perfect piece of work I create is of no use! A medicine packed however well is of no use if the patient passes away as the doctor was busy to create a great effect while forgetting the basic need of the medicine itself. Not though that is just a analogy I am talking about the presentations and mails that you read and re-read and make alterations before you send it out. Before you look at the mails, ppts, etc., and some times to an audience that just needs to get an update, just think if all the editing you are going to do is of any value to the content in the message.

Now I will take it one step further.

Perfection is the enemy of completion! Now ponder.

Google Saree

Satya Pauls's creation. Guess Google is dominating our lives most of the time. Pic is from here.

Indian Design Trends

Indian design - be it in films, furniture or accessories - may be high on style, but it is drifting away from its rich heritage in the zeal to imitate global trends, says Design Indaba, the design bible that has launched a collector's issue on India.

The magazine, published by Interactive Africa from South Africa, was launched in 2001.

"Designers in India should hunt for new aesthetic idioms from within the country's rich heritage. After independence, we lost the old aesthetic awareness because of lack of government support," said Ravi Naidoo, founder and managing editor of Interactive Africa.

"Design talent abounds in India but lack of design education in the country puts them at a disadvantage when compared to the rest of the world. We do not have art schools in the country which have global standards."

Read more: Indian design moving way from heritage - The Times of India

Indian dressing

There is no such move towards austerity in India. Their mantra is the brighter and the more bling the better. Versace, Armani and Hermes are all reporting good demand and rising sales.

Clearly you need something special to stand out in the world’s biggest democracy. It may not be very democratic to swan around with a Hermes Birkin bag on the arm, but no doubt it gladdens the soul to be able to do so. Perhaps it is a nod to their forefathers, the maharajas, who were the last word in luxury. Maybe it is just a desire to dust off the saris.

It may be bad news for the purveyors of pink salwar kameez, but for the French and Italian designers it is only good news, particularly as their traditional markets in America and Europe remain depressed.

Marketing Crisis

Call it marketing gimmick or the pick at opportunity, Hong Kong's mask makers are having a blast. With Swine Flu outbreak and a global alert being declared its time to protect yourself. Designer masks are in. This young girl sports a cool look with her shades and mask. Fools look for opportunities, wise create them.

Pic by CHANG KIM-FUNG for www.thestandard.com.hk

Christen it? Help recycle.

Hi, do you come here often? Sometime I feel like a stranger on my own blog. It's been a while since I've devoted some serious time to it. Too long in fact. Will make it up this week.

I had an interesting conversation with some friends the other night. We were talking about a business idea about making furniture out of bike parts and old items at your home. It would looks something like this. It sounds a good option as most of us and corporates have lot of old stuff stashed away in store rooms. The idea is to take up this old furniture and turn it to make a designer furniture item. She is coordinating with a few students from fashion designing school and architecture school to help her out. Operating purely as high end niche market she hopes to break even in 2 years while pursuing her DBA from US. Let see what happens.

By the way can use some names for the same. Can you suggest some?

Unity in Diversity

Sarah sent this...

RBI is ready to issue a new bimetallic 10 Rupee coin for circulation.

The look: The obverse side has the lion capitol with numeral 10 and year of manufacture. On reverse side, a double line cross with a dot in each pellet of cross and denomination written in Hindi and English around. The outer side metal is Nickel-Bronze and the inner side metal is Ferrous Steel. The weight of the coin would be 8 grams and the diameter would be 28 mm.

This design has been prepared by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad with the theme of Unity in Diversity.

Change the way you think

The Skase teacup by Steve Watson set is based on the idea of symbiosis. A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member. The Skase is a cup and saucer for the post-modern world. The cup is made from white glazed creamware and is freed from the usual convention of requiring a flat base. It has a pleasingly tactile pointed shape and sits upon a cross base made from Manchurian walnut.

Every one tells you to think out of the box. Here is an excellent example. 

Cycle seat & Impotency!

For many years there was a doubt but now it is confirmed. Bicycle's with regular nosed-seats increase the chances of impotency and noseless seats don't. Noseless bicycle seats enhance male potency and sensation while conventional seats have the reverse effect, says a new study, confirming something long suspected by five million bike riders and sexual experts. 

If you still are riding one or planning to buy one for your kid, think again.

Hang it

Ever thought how easy if some one would hold your child when you need to do something personal? Well here is the solution. Some one figured it too.

You can hold him, cuddle him and when required you could place it safe! Its called babykeeper!

Design products that fill in gaps ad you are sure to succeed.

Njoy it Backwards

Being a VIP(Very Into Pizza) member of Pizza Hut, I was expecting them to send me a mail with fabulous discounts which would go light on my pocket still leave a nice taste. But this new design with a catchy tag line asks me to try it out. It also has an offer and the price isn't mentioned. I think this is a nice move. Pizza Hut has found a nice way to attract the innovators in the idea-diffusion curve to come and taste its pizzas. So the next time I am in town, I would be trying it.

It need not always be a discount that can pull customers to your store/product/service. It can be a new design that will lift the customer's mind off the wallet. Good move Pizza Hut.

To Contradict

Chethan got a new tee(in pic) which claimed Blue Jeans! The tee was in orange. Eye-catchy and funny.

Contradicting any existing principle, belief will lead to instant attention. Its kind of cool too.

Any new ideas?

• Hot ice-cream
• Ice-cream pakoda
• Sweet Pickle

Can you add more?

Pep-up-si

Pepsi does a lot of research on how to be more presentable to the customer. The can is being redesigned in this way with a 'cooler' look and a new logo. Seth feels it wouldn't make much of a difference. I think the new logo and the design looks cheeky and pepped.

Will it work?

What do you think?

Will this change make you pick Pepsi over Coke?