S i g n at u r e
INDIA UNDER ONE ROOF HANDWOVEN WITH PRIDE
A SPECIAL SELECTION OF OUR HAND WOVEN SAREES, IN SINGULAR DESIGNS AND MYRIAD TEXTILES, PRESENTED BY WOMEN WHO BELIEVE IN EXPRESSING THEMSELVES AND WHO THEY ARE, IN ALL THEIR LIFE CHOICES
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Evergreen Allure hatever be the season – spring, summer, winter or monsoon – and whatever the occasion – office, wedding, party or festival – the saree is a must-try. And when your drape is born from the labour of love, woven with pride in threads of old and new, you are all elegance and grace. At Taneira we celebrate the unique and eternal allure of the handcrafted saree in its different avatars of silk, cotton, tussar and more. The sheer versatility of the ‘six-yards-of-confidence’ crafted from over 60 regions in India, is also evoked in the choice of blouse that may be paired with the saree; and the way it is draped. Depending on how you wish to wear it, the saree segues from being demure and traditional to spunky and modern. In the third edition of Signature, we bring you the stories of women, accomplished and progressive yet rooted in traditions, who have come together with Taneira in their shared passion for the saree.
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Archana ja i n
Nurturing relationships SHE IS AN ENTREPRENEUR , PR CHIEF, MENTOR . . . & so much MORE With her head of striking grey hair, and engaging manner, Archana seems born for the job she does. Founding partner of PR Pundit, one of the most reputed PR companies in the country, the 50-something has a hectic schedule. But through it all, she is beautifully turned out. For power dressing, it’s always the saree for Archana. She recalls: “The first time I insisted on wearing a saree was in 1975. My elder sister had to fold my mother’s chiffon in half so that it would fit me!” Here she picks a dramatic black and gold Jamdani saree from Taneira. Hard work and punctuality are Archana’s middle names – a throwback, perhaps, to her Army background. She is inspired by her father: “He gave us wings to realise our dreams. He was a die-hard patriot and was part of the 1965 and 1972 wars, and was proud that his son was part of the Kargil war. I miss him very much.” Archana founded PR Pundit in 1998. Business over the last 5-6 years has
set the company on an accelerated growth trajectory. Archana connects with all she meets in a charming, genuine manner and is known for creating relationships that last – both professionally and personally. She loves to travel and her favourite destination spa is Ananda in the Himalayas, but for pure relaxation, she heads to the beach. At home, she enjoys time out in her garden and revels in the scent of magnolias. Her favourite flower, predictably, is the cheery sunflower. Archana has some rules that help her navigate her day. “Clear all your e-mails first – it allows you to focus on your priorities for the rest of the day,” she says. She understands the unique pressures that a working woman faces and so, “at PR Pundit, we allow flexi-hours and work-fromhome facilities for women as and when needed.”
SHE identifies herself as a ‘perennial’ – as defined by U.S. internet entrepreneur Gina Pell – “compassionate, creative, collaborative, curious, passionATE & relevant at all ages...”
D r C h h av i
dedication unsurpassed In a 12-hour shift, she would oversee the BIRTH of 3 0 babies! The humble demeanour belies this young gynaecologist’s hard work and unwavering focus. Dr Chhavi’s recent assignment was at a government hospital where she headed a team of eight doctors. An average day saw her supervising as many as 30 deliveries. The 33-year old took it in her stride. “If I get proper sleep, I’m happy. If not, I still manage!” Her stress-buster is her three-year-old daughter Avni. “After work, I’m usually always home, playing hide-and-seek with her!” Alongside, Chhavi cleared three exams to become a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), equivalent to an MS. This allows her to practice in the UK and take up fellowship programmes. She plans to join a specialised course under the fellowship, focusing on test-tube babies or laparoscopy. Husband, Abhimanyu, an orthopaedic surgeon, plans to apply for Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons which allows him to practice in the UK.
Chhavi’s grandmother passed away from cervical cancer – something that could have been prevented had it been detected early through a routine pap smear. This shook the young Chhavi, and fuelled by her mother’s dream to have her daughter become a gynaecologist, she took up medicine. Another inspiration is her mother-in-law. “She is a joint secretary in the HRD Ministry, is super busy, and yet manages her home perfectly. I admire her!” Chhavi’s strong sense of self has much to do with her father. He made her leave out her surname in her Board exam form, saying “people tend to form impressions by one’s caste, not by the person you are”. So when applying for the UK visa where a second name was required, she wrote ‘Chhavi’. She adds laughing: “Now I am Dr Chhavi Chhavi!” Parties, family functions or work – the saree remains her go-to ensemble. And she fell in love at first sight with the saree she wears here. “The colours, the design, everything is so me – happy, elegant, graceful!”
Her style is eclectic and she loves wearing sarees. “It is culturally rooted and yet it may be worn and styled in a modern way. I love the richness and colour combo of this saree”
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A z ra
H asan
No ‘average day’ in her life Says the gorgeous Dr Azra: “Our grandmothers wore sarees, so will our daughters – the saree is timeless. It is like water - it becomes what you want it to be...”
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ittle things make her day special. After bidding goodbye to her children, 10-year-old Shayan and 18-year-old Sana, at the bus stand, the 46-year-old doc drives to work, enjoying her favourite music, humming along, and soaking in the beauty of the trees lining the road.
medicines after breakfast, lunch and dinner,” recalls Azra. “She whispered in my ear that she can’t take the medicine even if it’s free. She explained: ‘My family cannot afford more than one meal a day...’ It’s knowing other people’s struggles that helps me truly appreciate the blessings I have.”
From growing up in Jamshedpur to working in Delhi, Azra has always followed her inner calling to help people. She has worked in the busiest of hospitals in Delhi, from AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital to her current place of work – HAHC Hospital. She also teaches at the HIMSR Medical College – something she loves to do.
‘Life is made of victories & failures. Norms are not custommade for the individual. We must make our own stories...’
Being single, there have been several times when Azra has had to draw on her inner strength to go on. She feels challenges make her more accepting and a better, stronger person. Today she is good friends with her children’s father and he is equally loving and available for the kids. “There is no mantra for juggling home and work. When a challenge comes up, I think, ‘How will I cope?’ But I tell myself to just get on with it and do as much as I can, whatever I can. And then somehow, amazingly, the impossible gets done!” Learning is an everyday process for Azra. “Recently, a little girl was advised
Her day ends on a relaxed note. She calls and texts people she cares for, cuddles up with her kids and says a prayer before calling it a day. “My children’s chit-chat, a beautiful piece of art or music, a holiday with close friends or family... these are some of my favourite things, and always perk me up, no matter what!” Graceful and elegant, Azra loves the saree and calls it “six yards of pure elegance”. The versatility of the drape is another draw – from office to festivals, it can be styled and worn everywhere, feels the doc. Azra is happiest in bright ethnic colours and fell in love with the Banarasi Silk from Taneira that she wears here for its deep red hue and striking golden motifs. “As Keats said, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. It’s no cliché… A saree is just that!”
Pr i ya S a h a i Shirali
graceful wordsmith her passion for sarees is no less than her love for words . . . In the course of a day, this 50-year old communications professional crafts and curates content, moving effortlessly between different styles and formats, without losing sight of the big picture and the goal. “I am always curious about changes in the communication space,” says Priya. Handling strategic communication for her organisation, she plans communication for diverse target audiences in different genres and across channels.
She’s had her share of lemons but has always managed to balance her three-legged stool. Her parents separated when she was 16. “From my mother, who raised my brother and me, I learnt grace, compassion and the maturity to not let life’s experiences embitter me. From my father, I learnt that no matter what, tomorrow is another day. My brother’s love and support taught me how deep the emotional bond between siblings can be.”
Her love for the English language and books – author Daphne Du Maurier was her childhood muse – led her to pursue a degree in Literature from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College. Journalism was a natural fit, and she worked with the erstwhile magazine A&M, and the India Today Group before she got into corporate communication.
Her favourite perk-me-up? Sunrise! “When the sky changes from an inky blue to a reddish-pink and slowly brightens to clear blue, and then the sun peeps through with its golden glow... it is pure magic for me,” she says. Meditation and spending time with her family – her journalist husband, a son in grade 10 at the Shri Ram School and a 19-yearold daughter at Princeton University in the USA – relaxes her. She enjoys reading and listening to music, and is ready to call it a day at 10 pm.
Graceful and articulate, Priya believes that life is like a threelegged stool with work, health and relationships as the legs. All three must balance for the stool to stand.
She has a sunrise to catch.
STYLE FOR PRIYA IS INNATE. SHE LOVES WEARING A SAREE. ‘THE SWISH OF THE PALLU IS POETRY IN MOTION. DEPENDING ON HOW YOU DRAPE IT, YOU CAN LOOK DEMURE & TRADITIONAL, OR SPUNKY AND SEXY IN A SAREE.’
Vasundhra
S ang w an
B err y
The art of living life in all colours Success sits lightly on this young design expert’s delicate shoulders. The art aficionado revels in wearing her favourite sarees as much as she does in digging into momos!
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raduating from business school and acquiring her Masters in HR management from the UK, Vasundhra joined a business house. But very soon, it dawned on her that she had missed her calling. She quit and joined the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London for a degree in design. Today, Vasundhra runs a design consultancy, Synterior, and handles art and design projects. Hailing from Chandigarh, Vasundhra attended the Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun where she learnt an enduring life lesson: “To try everything in life, to share and be inclusive”. She was also much inspired by her mother, a singular person whose life mantra for her daughter was to always engage in learning something new. A combination of brains and beauty, at 33, Vasundhra has worked for the National Museum, redesigning public zones, and assisted in setting up the country’s largest jewellery gallery, and Anubhav, a gallery for the visually impaired, the first of its kind in the public sector. In 2015, Vasundhra was one of the two museum professionals selected from India for the International Training Programme at the British Museum. She was also involved in the Google Arts Project as part of the team that
managed the upgradation of galleries, educational programmes, exhibitions, catalogues and their website. She anchored the social media section and designed products and exhibits. Last August, Vasundhra curated, designed and set up a permanent gallery to commemorate the life of Rajiv Gandhi, on his 75th birthday. All along, the go-getter has continued to be involved with interior projects. “I have a lot to do, to learn, work on bigger projects, grow my team, expand into other fields. I would like to help new artists on their journeys,” she says.
Her sense of style is effortless & classical. The Taneira she wears here reflects her love for tradition Sarees for Vasundhra are representatives of feminine grace and charm. During work hours, she likes to wear light fabrics, with nude makeup. “I enjoy wearing heels – they add a magical lift to one’s personality!” says the art aficionado. Recently, she married her Prince Charming, Sanjog, her brother’s batchmate from Doon School. “I didn’t know him growing up but I guess it was destined!” she says, smiling prettily.
Sumiran Annamaria K as h yap
The ethereal and the earthy ThE Beaut y connoisseur LIKES TO strike a QUIE tLY ELEGANT note An engaging fusion of an inspired soul and a winsome writer – that’s Sumiran for you. Draped in a Taneira chiffon, she looks ethereal. Says Sumiran: “I have ‘beautyhungry eyes’. This allows me to seek beauty in everyday life, and keep up my sense of wonderment.” Born and raised in Delhi, Sumiran comes from an eclectic background – her father’s family is from Himachal, her maternal grandmother from Yorkshire, and her maternal grandfather from Jalandhar. The career graph of the 33-year-old writer for lifestyle brands doesn’t quite follow a beaten path. Following her graduation from Delhi University in Organisational Psychology, and post-graduation in International HR Management from the UK, Sumiran worked as a graduate recruitment administrator at her University and then a private banking recruitment consultant in London’s financial district. Sumiran considers her 20s as the decade that re-casted her life – she
lost both her mother and her paternal grandmother in this time. Both the ladies, strong and independent, were muses for Sumiran, encouraging her to think out of the box. It was a painful and disorienting time. Recalls Sumiran: “I got a lot of comfort from writing – it helped me become calmer. It cleared my head, and over time, made it easier for me to connect with the child I was when my mother and grandmother were alive...” But Sumiran is not just a writer. She is much sought after for her sense of elegant styling, and her innate sense of all that’s beautiful. Today, she has carved an exclusive niche for herself as a social media influencer who lends her own interpretation to a plethora of creative projects. Her style is a mix of casual elegance with classic nuances, and the saree is like a second skin to her. “Be it an event, a sit-down dinner or a cocktail, you can’t go wrong with it!” declares this style connoisseur.
She chooses this chiffon Taneira for its timeless appeal. ‘FINE, HIGH-quality chiffon is a versatile investment, and This soft, pastel saree is the perfect dawn-to-dusk drape’
Is h a G u p ta Taya l
Finding the right ‘life’ formula LOVE WHAT YOU DO, ADVISES THE YOUNG MOM & ENTREPRENEUR It’s difficult to believe that the petite 30-year-old is an entrepreneur and mother of three-year-old Kiaan. A graduate of NIFT, Isha runs her own label Isha Gupta Tayal or IGT. She is particularly passionate about textiles and traditions. “I love the drama of the black saree with the red border I wear here. The retro, bell sleeve-blouse paired with the saree, adds a charming touch!” Balancing her day as a busy mom and professional has been perfected by the young lady. “I don’t think there needs to be a magic mantra to balance the roles one plays. It happens easily if we keep time.” Isha feels this happens organically with working women. She also observes: “Children of working women tend to be more independent, accepting and respectful of their mothers’ time and their having to juggle tasks.” Isha wakes up no later than 6.30 am. After getting her son organised for school, she meditates for a good half hour and only then gets down
to her work. The fashion entrepreneur loves all aspects of her work – the brainstorming, the creative explorations, dealing with her customers and yes, even managing her books. She takes help from her businessman husband only when she hits a roadblock. “I prefer to do my own things!” She started her fashion line in 2015 by displaying her collection at designer stores across India. Today she has her own store. “I want to serve the niche customer who is always in search of timeless outfits,” says Isha. She believes in adding that extra personal touch to her outfits, and is hands-on when it comes to ensuring quality and finish. Says the entrepreneur: “The biggest challenge I face is that the market trends change more frequently than the weather! So one has to race to keep up.” Isha feels she is living her dream but there’s still a lot to achieve. “Every day is a plan I am working on: to make it bigger!” she declares, smiling.
‘CREATIVE INSPIRATION HAPPENS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. For INSTANCE, EVERYONE has a story that helps you learn and expand your horizons. LISTEN. TRAVEL. MEET MORE PEOPLE...’
K a v ita
D e v gan
Her m antr a is to think ‘can-do’ A happy aura surrounds dietician Kavita, well known for her bespoke solutions to weight issues, and her books. She enjoys wearing the saree & declares ‘there’s a saree for everyone!’
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er empathy shines through as she talks, advising on that niggling health issue that may be bothering you. For this 48-year-old, life is an adventure. She may be at the clinic one day; the next day, sharing her knowledge with an audience; and the day after, furiously writing at home. “Whatever be my day, it begins with lots of water followed by a cup of ginger and pepper tea.”
and Public Health Nutrition, and an internship at Safdarjung Hospital. She has been practising for 25 years and writing about her subject for 20.
Kavita has an array of clients, including celebs whose overall well-being she considers her responsibility. “I am a liberal dietician. No ‘all’ or ‘nothing’ approach for me. ‘More of the good and less of the bad’ is what I advise,” she says.
Says Kavita: ‘You only get one body so be responsible with it. Focus on nutrition, and weight loss will happen naturally.’
Managing home and bringing up her son Vimanyu, now 22 and in college, even with a supportive husband, required ‘smart handling’. Says Kavita: “You can do it. It gets better with practice. You learn how to juggle better, and also cut down a bit from everywhere – the magic mantra!”
Growing up in Gwalior, her approach to life was shaped during her years at the Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya (SKV). “I learnt Manipuri dance, theatre, elocution, 7-8 sports… My days were stress-free, filled with learning and great fun! I gained things that matter more than marks: self-confidence, and the ability to experiment in life without losing my balance.”
Kavita is inspired by new ideas, books, music and happy people. She herself is an inspiration to many. After the birth of her son, she discovered she has endometriosis, a painful gynaecological disorder with no cure. “It took me a long time to come to terms with it. But you learn to live with the pain, and not let it bog you down. Focussing on what one has is what has helped me always.”
Though her dad wanted her to be a doctor, she took up Home Science specialising in nutrition. She says, “It was love at first lesson! I was sure I had found my calling.” She followed it up with a specialisation in Dietetics
Kavita wears whatever’s comfortable and makes her happy – “while looking good”. She loves the upbeat colour of the Taneira she is wearing here. “It’s soothing, and makes me feel good about myself, life, everything!”
Almitra Ko r gao n ka r Ma nj r eka r
SOARING HIGH ON THE SEAS SHE IS PROUD TO BE the 1 WOMaN AMONG 5 0 MEN IN HER PROFES SION . . . “At sea, most mornings, I get to see a different sunrise in a different place from the day before. On docking, we get off to explore, meet new people... It’s super charging! No getting bored on this job.” The diminutive Second Officer is usually on board ships that deliver energy to world markets. She plans the route and navigation. Says Almitra: “On board, I spend about eight hours a day routing the ship. Rest of the time is devoted to maintaining the equipment, using radars and charts.” Most times, she is the only woman on board. She was 18 when she saw an advertisement by a premier institute inviting applications to join up for training to enter the Merchant Navy. The idea of sailing the high seas, commanding valuable cargo, was a thrilling prospect. She applied, got through and did her B.Sc. in Nautical Science. The gruelling year-long course consisted of on-ground training and cadetship on board. She began sailing in 2008.
Married to Prathamesh Manjrekar, her batchmate, Almitra misses him when she is away – which is six months of the year. But she would not give up this life for anything in the world. The other part of her job she loves is that for 3-4 months in a year, she gets to be home. “When I am home, I am ‘completely’ home unlike my friends stuck in 9-5, six-day jobs,” she says, laughing. Almitra is keen that more women take up sailing. Yes, she points out, family support for such jobs is a must. She feels particularly blessed, for her parents and in-laws are proud and supportive of what she does. It helps that her husband too is a sailor. Says Almitra “we try to synchronise our contracts so we can take up the same assignment and be home at the same time.” This sailor enjoys writing her travel blog, ‘Dusty Rucksack’. At sea, time off means reading, yoga, looking out at the sea, the stars, or catching up with her husband from wherever in the world she may be in.
On the ship, she is in uniform SO She makes up for it when on land by wearing her favourite ensemble – THE SAREE – AS OFTEN AS SHE CAN. She fell in love with the silk Taneira she wears here, FOR ITS TEXTURE
A saree story
Beautiful drapes, woven with love and worn with passion Sarees that tell a story in their design inspirations harking back to ancient artistry, now interpreted by Taneira to suit the contemporary woman who lives her life her way, balancing her many roles always with respect for the rich heritage of the land. Taneira drapes her in sarees from across India - woven with pride and available under one roof in all Taneira stores.
At a glance
To many, Hands are just that... Hands.
But if you look harder, you will see. Hands create what minds can only imagine. Hands can produce magic from nothing. If it is made by hand, it is honest.
In a world that glorifies the mediocre and factory-lined It is good to own something made by nothing more Than the two greatest instruments known to man... Hands.
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