Latest news with #Taj
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Designer Manish Malhotra makes heads turn with India's first couture party
Designer Manish Malhotra is a creative genius and he has proved that creativity and fashion have no format. At the India Couture Week, Manish hosted a couture party, skipping the traditional ramp show format. A redefining moment in the history of haute couture and fashion weeks, the world over. As soon as the news went out, the glitterati world was abuzz with curiosity. The fashion press went to town with the news. The couture party invite wasn't giving away much either. He wanted to 'redefine and reimagine a couture night'. And he didn't want to do a formal runway for sure. He clearly wanted a larger-than-life royal party. By definition, a fashion couture party is a high-fashion event, where designers showcase their latest couture collections in an exclusive, intimate setting. Unlike traditional runway shows, these parties emphasise a more immersive and social experience, blurring the lines between designer, model, and guest. They often feature elements like live performances, curated decor, and opportunities for guests to interact with the designs and the designers themselves. After more than five years, Manish decided to do something unusual. So, we spoke with the man himself. 'After over five and a half years, coming back to India Couture Week felt incredibly special and I knew I didn't want to return with just another show. It had to be personal. It had to be different,' Manish said in an exclusive interview to City Times. The couture party was held on July 26 at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Models glided through the venue wearing ensembles from Inaya, the designer's newest collection, merging eveningwear with global glamour and Indian craftsmanship. The event also featured a curated archival showcase of Malhotra's most loved creations and an exclusive presentation of his high jewellery line, bringing style and heritage under one roof. 'No formal runway, no front rows, just a couture celebration with music, legacy, food, flowers arranged just the way I like them at home, and an energy that felt like home,' he said. 'From showcasing cherished archival pieces and our high jewellery collection to debuting Inaya in the most intimate, immersive way, this night was about you, and me, and all of us, celebrating the spirit of couture together.' The highlight of the evening were the iconic costumes from Manish's archives that were on full display. Bollywood to Met Gala An exclusive set up was done with mannequins placed one after another wearing creations that made history. From Bollywood to Met Gala, every piece that made news and created memories was on display at the party. They included Kajol's famous neon green lehenga from the evergreen Bollywood hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kareena Kapoor Khan's outfit from the song Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Natasha Poonawalla's Met Gala gown, Rekha's unforgettable look for Vogue cover and many more from the designer's timeless archives. This was a beautiful way to tell the story of these timeless creations. The highlight at the party was Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, flown in exclusively for her first-ever collaboration with an Indian designer. Making her debut as 'the muse' in The Lady Crystal Diamond, a bespoke creation by Manish Malhotra, she embodied the spirit of the evening: global sophistication fused with Indian artistry. The look, featuring crystal embroidery and structured draping, shimmered with restrained opulence, cementing its place as the most talked-about couture moment of the season. For her second look, Ambrosio unveiled The Pearl Story, an evolution of the couture house's signature pearl ensembles, following the iconic appearances of Adriana Lima and Coco Jones. Ambrosio wore a structured crinoline skirt paired with a layered tulle corset, drenched in cascading pearls and sequins. The evening also marked the launch of a trend forecast by Manish Malhotra: cocktail saris with crystal pallus, envisioned to redefine after-dark dressing for the modern Indian woman. Alongside these were swirl skirts with hypnotic movement, contoured and rouged gowns, and sculpted blouses, each designed to bring a sense of fluid glamour to the night. For men, sculpted silhouettes came through in sharply tailored suits, cropped bandhgalas, and elevated eveningwear that redefined the rules of formal dressing. From regal brooches and heirloom jhumkas to sculptural cufflinks and collar pins, the Manish Malhotra High Jewellery showcase added an opulent dimension to the night, enhancing both womenswear and menswear with signature sparkle and precision craftsmanship. The guest list Every VIP, socialite and influencer wanted to be on the guest list. Celebrities included the acclaimed actors Tamannaah Bhatia, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Taha Shah Badussha, Shalini Passi, Kalyani Saha and many more. But the party was something more exclusive, according to Saha. 'Fashion shows are a colossal expense. As important as it is to showcase every season, I feel the need to do it depends on the commercial viability of mainly sales and also branding which is necessary,'she said. 'But a party such as this, also cleverly showcasing the brand, is a brilliant idea instead of having the usual format. Models, celebrities alike wearing the brand but also socialising and having fun. Most importantly, Manish always does everything so beautifully and tastefully. The Couture Party was definitely so much fun and special,' Kalyani said. Fashion shows are getting saturated indeed. During fashion week, shows can be overwhelming — crowded seating, delayed starts, and a mad dash to the next event. In contrast, after-parties offer a welcome respite, providing a more relaxed and intimate setting for designers, celebrities, and industry friends to unwind and socialise after a hectic day of shows. 'These exclusive gatherings allow guests to shed the formality of the runway and connect with others in a more laid-back atmosphere. So what Manish did is perhaps pick a cue from there and create his own magical world and termed it a couture party. This one was very inclusive, everyone was interacting, enjoying a beverage while showing some fab fashion,' content creator Saru Mukherjee Sharma said. The ambience was designed to reflect Manish Malhotra's signature style, with moody lighting, mirrored accents, and sculptural florals that brought his vision of decor to life in Delhi. Without a traditional runway, the evening flowed naturally and allowed guests to engage more closely with the couture as it moved through the space. So, will India fashion weeks see the couture party trend becoming a norm anytime now? Diet Sabya, an anonymous yet popular fashion watchdog on social media, said, 'I don't think so. It'll take a special kind of designer to pull it off because guests, clients and editors hate watching a show standing. Like they hate it. They want to be seated. So probably a one-off.' For the first time ever, the designer featured an all-women line-up of musical talent. DJ Kayan opened the evening with her distinct blend of electronica and soul, followed by noted singer Jonita Gandhi's live vocals and Lush Lata's genre-bending sounds that kept the energy unexpected and dynamic throughout the night. It was also good to see iconic model Sonalika Sahay walk for the designer. One of the highlights of the evening was the expansive grazing table, personally curated by Malhotra. Cascading blooms, subtle pastel palettes, and unstructured wild textures by Interflora India transformed the venue into an extension of Manish's world making it feel both elegant and personal, bringing his signature decor vision to Delhi in a beautifully organic way. It depicted a celebration of couture and most importantly a celebration of Manish Malhotra's history with fashion, creativity and Bollywood. 'Couture party is a fantastic idea. Manish's attention to detail is incredible and he loves to come up with fun ideas. Couture Party is a trend to watch out for. It's interactive, free flowing and intimate,' says Shalini Passi who wore a vibrant yellow sari gown for the party. The couture party's creative direction and set design was led by Sumant Jayakrishnan, known for his cinematic approach to immersive storytelling. Jayakrishnan worked closely with Malhotra to ensure the spatial design aligned with the vision: intimate, fluid and unbound by convention. Amid all the media madness, fashion commentary, glitterati and showbiz, there's a valid point that Manish is trying to make: fashion has a history and it must be told. 'I created an archival of my work as I wanted the audience to watch, observe, admire and honour the fashion icons who have worn my creations and made them iconic,' he said. 'Be it Rekha- ji, Kajol, Kareena, Natasha, Coco Jones, Rihanna and so many more. Every look of these celebrities tells a story,' he said. 'It's 35 years of my work in cinema and 20 years of the label. It is the brand's commitment to artistry and craftsmanship. I don't want couture to be serious. I want people to have fun with fashion, fashion that creates history.'
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
India joins Japan in top 3, ranks among best countries to..., here's what made to the list
India joins Japan in top 3, ranks among best countries to..., here's what made to the list India's tourism sector has grown very fast in recent times. The Telegraph UK has released a list of the best countries to visit in 2025. India has been ranked third on this list. New Zealand is at number one, and Japan is at number two. A chartered accountant named Sarthak Ahuja shared a post about this on LinkedIn. In his post, he talked about how quickly India's hospitality industry is growing. He also shared how people's travel habits are changing over time. According to Ahuja, the best cities to travel to in the world right now are Cape Town, Seville, and Sydney. India also got recognition in the hotel rankings. Two Indian hotels made it to the top list: The Oberoi was ranked first and the Taj was ranked third. India's hotel industry is expanding quickly. IHCL, the company that runs the Taj Hotels, has opened 50 new hotels since January 2024. The company aims to increase this number to between 350 and 700 hotels by the year 2030. At the same time, France's Accor Group also plans to triple its number of hotels in India by 2030. How rising GDP is changing travel in India India's per capita GDP (income per person) has now crossed USD 3,000. As people earn more, they are spending more on travel, especially local travel within the country. Currently, India has about 2,00,000 branded hotel rooms, which is similar to what the UAE has. But India's population is over 100 times bigger than that of the UAE. This shows a huge gap and big growth potential in India's hotel industry. According to chartered accountant Sarthak Ahuja, this is a great opportunity for people who run AirBnBs or boutique hotels. He explains that rich Indians usually take one foreign trip per year, but they also go on at least 2–3 short domestic trips in the same year. That means demand for good local stays is growing fast. Siliguri is becoming a hot spot for destination weddings Siliguri in West Bengal is now turning into a popular place for destination weddings. Ahuja recently visited the city and noticed that many big hotel chains are starting to open there. Siliguri is especially becoming a favourite for people from Bihar and Bengal. The luxury hotel chain Mayfair is already there. Now, hotels like Taj, ITC, and Hyatt also have plans to open in the city. People are now spending up to Rs. 1 crore for weddings. In fact, even 100-room hotels are falling short to meet the demand during wedding seasons.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Ananya Panday Amazed By The Timeless Beauty Of Taj Mahal
1/8 Those hoop earrings and a dainty necklace just added the right touch of glam. (Image: Instagram) From her glowing look to her candid admiration for the Taj, Ananya totally stole the spotlight. (Image: Instagram) 6/8 She had earlier dropped a hint on Instagram, suggesting that she might be working with Jackie Shroff. (Image: Instagram)
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
6 best co-branded credit cards compared: What you get for travel, dining, and more
By carefully selecting a co-branded credit card that supports your personal brands, you can also benefit from greater discounts and reward features associated with those companies. This is a carefully compiled guide to the best co-branded cards - and how to best utilise a co-branded card to work for you - whether you travel often, shop online, or fuel your commute. Brand-incentive cards: These credit cards encourage brand loyalty with substantial incentives such as airline miles or voucher savings. These cards generally work well if you spend a significant amount of time within that ecosystem. These credit cards encourage brand loyalty with substantial incentives such as airline miles or voucher savings. These cards generally work well if you spend a significant amount of time within that ecosystem. Lifestyle benefits: Cards like Marriott Bonvoy and Taj have specifically focused on rewarding lifestyle choices with more exceptional moments (for example, lounge access) and travel experiences. Cards like Marriott Bonvoy and Taj have specifically focused on rewarding lifestyle choices with more exceptional moments (for example, lounge access) and travel experiences. Milestones and sign-up offers: Most co-branded cards provide value if you meet spend minimums or loyalty tiers at destinations and instant value in the form of attractive welcome gifts & milestone benefits. Limited touchpoint reward flexibility: Many points are limited to consumption of partner brand products, compared to general reward cards. Higher APR's: If you don't pay the co-branded card off each month, some co-branded cards have higher interest rates. Spending behaviour pressure: You may feel pressured to overspend on consumption of partner brand products once you reach waiver levels. Co-branded credit cards Annual fees Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card ₹ 350 Yatra SBI Card ₹ 499 Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card ₹ 0 IndianOil RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card ₹ 1500 Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card ₹ 500 Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card ₹ 500 (Note: Please visit the bank's official website to learn more about the fees & charges of the credit card of your choice) 1. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: 10% off flights, 20% off domestic hotel stays via EaseMyTrip. 2X reward points for all other purchases, eliminate 10X for travel categories. You're granted two free domestic lounge passes a year. 2. Yatra SBI Card: Welcome coupons of ₹ 8,250 at Yatra. Discounts of ₹ 4,000 on international flights, ₹ 1,000 on domestic flights. Revising the fuel charge plus a ₹ 50 lakh in travel accident cover. 3. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card: 5% cash back for prime members, 3% for non-prime members. 1% to 2% cash back for other online purchases and for purchases with partnering merchants. RBL Bank XTRA Credit Card: At IndianOil petrol stations your fuel expenses benefit 5%. 10% cash back on utility bills, groceries and anything else. Turbo Points which you can convert to fuel immediately. 5. Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card: You will receive a 10% cashback on food and beverages from Swiggy, Instamart, Genie and Dineout. 5% cash back from recognised websites like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, etc. 6. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card: You will get a 25% cash back on DTH, broadband and Airtel mobile payments. You get 10% cash back on BigBasket, Zomato and Swiggy purchases. 1% cashback with allowance of waiving the fuel surcharge for any other purchases. Assess your brand loyalty before determining the best co-branded card. Relate card benefits to your travel, fuel and shopping spending. Examine the waiver level spending and the join and renewal fee costs. Pay the balance in full so that the card benefits exceed your costs. Compare the benefits with the interest rates. In conclusion, discipline is key: never pay interest on outstanding loan balances, meet thresholds without overspending, and keep credit utilisation as low as possible. The right co-branded card can realize your day-to-day expenses and allow you to closely surf the rewards wave, whether that is through cashback or solid travel savings. For all personal finance updates, visit here. Disclaimer: Mint has a tie-up with fin-techs for providing credit, you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit score. Mint does not promote or encourage taking credit as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- New Indian Express
CBI arrests Rs 12.6 crore fraud accused after 16 years
BENGALURU: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 19 arrested a proclaimed offender, Nasreen Taj, from Bengaluru after a 16-year-long chase in a high-value bank fraud case of around Rs 12.63 crore in Mandya, the officials said on Monday. During this operation, human and technology intelligence (humint and techint) have been used. Taj had severed contact with her family and social network, and was living under the pseudonym- Salma and used to change residence. The CBI had registered the case on April 15, 2009, against accused, including, the then branch manager of Syndicate Bank, Mandya, husband of Taj- Asadullah Khan- and eight others for criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents, to defraud the Syndicate Bank to the tune of Rs 12.63 crore. In collusion with her husband, Khan, and others, she fraudulently availed a Temporary Overdraft (TOD) facility of up to Rs 120 lakh, along with farm loans amounting to Rs 55 lakh from Syndicate Bank. 'The proceeds from these farm loans were illicitly diverted towards the repayment of the TOD, instead of utilising it for agricultural development, as mandated under the terms of sanction,' the agency said. CBI had filed the charge sheet on October 12, 2010. 'She failed to join the trial to summons/warrants and was untraceable since 2019. Multiple non-bailable warrants were issued against her since April 30, 2019. Finally, the Special Court, Bengaluru, on November 27, 2021, ordered Proclamation and Attachment of property warrant against her,' CBI added. She had misled the local residents as well as the employer about her real identity and had maintained minimal interaction with locals. The CBI used advanced technological tools and identity-tracking databases and meticulously analysed her digital footprint. 'Supplemented by extensive field investigations, the team successfully located Taj in Bengaluru. Pursuant to her identification, she was produced before the Competent Court in Bengaluru, which remanded her to judicial custody,' the agency is the second case in a row in which CBI used tech platforms to apprehend a long-absconding offender.
