Lifestyle

06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

WeaverStory’s latest collection, Ghazal, blends delicate handiwork with chanderi

An outfit from Ghazal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Blending the beauty of poetry with fashion, WeaverStory kickstarted the year with a collection called Ghazal. Describing the range as a “celebration of grace, creativity and the quiet strength of a poet’s world,” CEO and founder of the apparel brand Nishant Malhotra says he was inspired by the bond between poets and their muse. He wanted to capture the “essence of their artistry, love and heritage”. Ghazal features kurtas and Anarkali suits for women, and kurta sets and dhotis for men in fabrics such as Chanderi and cotton tissue with intricate…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

How Spanish designers are reinventing the flamenco dress with contemporary flair

Once worn solely by dancers, the flamenco dress and its contemporary variations are now used by women in Spain for weddings, fairs, and receptions. Transforming the classic flamenco dress into a blouse and skirt or a pant suit is something that many designers like Jose Hidalgohave done successfully. We are in Seville, the largest city in Andalucia, Spain — also the home of flamenco dancing — at the boutique of designer duo Pablo Retamaro and Juanjo Bernal (aka Cloe) known for their flamenco style dresses. A woman performing the flamenco dance | Photo Credit: Getty Images The dress — which…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

When Chennai parks turn into open air art galleries

More than 500 artists across age groups will turn Senmozhi Poonga into a dazzling kaleidoscope of colours on February 2. The second edition of Chennaiyil Oar Oviya Sangamam, an art exhibition presented by Indian Art Factory, will see participants, some from other cities, take every inch of their stall under tree canopies and behind plants to present a vibrant art gallery. The event is a big stage for aspiring and upcoming artists. Many of these artists do not have the means or the qualification to present their works at art galleries. While the larger goal of taking art to public spaces…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Artist Aman Poddar’s intricate sculptural jewellery is inspired by Nature and structure

A close look of the sculptural brooch, Genesis | Photo Credit: special arrangement A globe in gold that carries the world within itself — crowded, textured and fascinating to the naked eye, replete with spokes , snaking bulbous heads, and hollow circles that jut out, intricate and demanding of a second, closer look. This fascinating world that begs to be carried around, is wearable art. It is a brooch made over 200 hours of toil, and in 18-carat gold. Aptly titled Genesis, this brooch is one of artist Aman Poddar’s latest creations made in collaboration with Italian artist Giovanni Corvaja, and…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Andhra Pradesh: Natural farming boosts strawberry harvests in Lambasingi

As the narrow, winding ghat road meanders through the green hills of the Eastern Ghats, a journey to Lambasingi feels like an adventure. A winter morning drive to the region in the Chintapalli Mandal of Alluri Sitharama Raju district is a visual treat, with towering trees, occasional water-streams jutting out of the hills, and the crisp mountain air adding to the charm. A narrow diversion to the right from the Lothugedda Junction takes one to the interiors of Lambasingi. The bumpy road, flanked by patches of greens and scattered hamlets, leads one to the Andhra Strawberry Farm, one of the…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Lessons from Helsinki’s Oodi – The Hindu

At a time when the book reading culture is declining across the world, how does one country keep it alive and thriving? The success story of Helsinki Central Library Oodi in Finland since it opened six years ago is an inspiration indeed. So, when I got the opportunity to be in the world’s happiest country (voted thus for the seventh year in a row), I had to visit. Oodi is the Finnish word for ‘ode’ and this name, as with its design and many of its innovative features, is courtesy participatory planning and consultation with the public. I learn that…

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06

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Jothi Speciality Papers turns cotton scraps into biodegradable mannequins

A few days ago, a video on Erode-based Jothi Speciality Papers — that highlighted its project crafting biodegradable mannequins — went viral on Instagram. If you have been wondering how this project came to be, here is the brand’s backstory. Mani P (centre) and his wife (fourth from left) with the team | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Helmed by Mani P and his wife, the company has been creating recycled cotton rag paper from textile scraps since 1996. “In 1994, we visited a garment factory in Tirupur, saw a lot of waste textile fabric that ended up in landfills, and…

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05

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

From athleisure to business shoes: Leather Fashion Show highlights 2025 trends

The Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran In this year’s Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a focus product scheme for the footwear and leather sectors. The Hindu reported that this will generate a turnover of ₹4 lakh crore, and exports of more than ₹1.1 lakh crore, generating employment for 22 lakh people. On the cusp of this announcement, the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.This year’s display…

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05

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Ed Sheeran in Chennai: A first-time concertgoer’s live music experience

Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman on stage in Chennai | Photo Credit: Mark Surridge I have never been a huge fan of concerts. I get the hype about live music, but to endure huge crowds, getting pushed around, overpriced water and snacks, sweating, standing for hours, and the invariably dirty washrooms, I would rather stay home with my noise-cancelling headphones. Or so I thought until Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman took the stage to sing an unlikely  ‘Shape of You’ and ‘Urvashi Urvashi’ duet. Ed Sheeran is on a six city tour in India organised by BookMyShow Live. The +–=÷× Tour…

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05

Feb

By The Press Editor

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Lifestyle

Comic Con is back in Chennai with creators, cosplay, comedy and more

Cosplayers strike a pose at Comic Con in Chennai last year | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement What brings Vecna from Stranger Things, Batman, Goku from Dragonball Z, No-Face from Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away and several katana or sword-wielding Japanese warriors all under the same roof, in Chennai? In its first edition in Chennai last year, Comic Con had plenty of this, for superhero, manga, anime and art lovers across ages. Children, teens, and adults all decked up in their cosplay finest, came together to explore merchandise stalls, meet creators from India and abroad, and queue up to meet artists who had…

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