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It may be the age of the stylus, there is still nothing to beat the pleasure—or style—of putting pen to paper, says Roopinder Singh
Handbag Haven
bling it on
PACESETTER Noor Sandhu
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It may be the age of the stylus, there is still nothing to beat the pleasure—or style—of putting pen to paper, says Roopinder Singh
Chaos. That’s the name of the pen which has been co-designed by Sylvester Stallone. “The pen is mightier than the sword,” as the old saying goes, and here we have it, after wielding the sword and other assorted weapons on the silver screen, the action hero is now associating his name with a new line of pens. No ordinary pens these. They are limited edition writing instruments made by the Italian company, Montegrappa Pens. “The Chaos Limited Edition honours the style and panache of the action-packed Sylvester Stallone while possessing the balance of elegance and function of a luxury fountain pen. One thousand of the pens will be made of silver and start at $4,965 with 10 fountain and 10 roller pens being crafted of 18-karat gold with precious stones,” says the company. Now, it turns out that Stallone is a pen aficionado. What he says, and how he does so, is rather extensively documented on celluloid, yet he yearns to put what he has to say on paper, to write it down. We must remember that language is the vehicle of thought. The written word solidifies that expression, it gives it a degree of authority and permanence — you write so that what you say can reach a wider audience. When you write you are aware that what you pen down will outlast what you say. Man’s attempt to convert what was only verbal to something more permanent, to leave the mark of his thoughts through writing, goes back in time. It started by sharpening a reed, dipping it into a dye, and using it on a banana leaf. We still find copies of the Rig Veda in this form, preserved since centuries. Limited Edition pens are quite a rage among the rich and the powerful. They transcend their functional aspects to become items of jewellery, and indeed, many are just that — finely crafted pieces encrusted with precious metals and jewels. Just look at the Tibaldi's Brookland that commemorates Bentley's history; Caran d'Ache Horlogerie, with its 850 diamonds; or Montblanc's solid gold Diego Rivera series. Limited eidition pens are are often named after iconic figures, like Ivanhoe, Princess Grace, John Lennon, or even Mahatama Gandhi. Montblanc’s Mahatma Gandhi limited edition pen was launched in October 2009 and its design sought to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s life and achievements. As the description says: “The top of the cap and cone are inspired by the spindle which Gandhi used to spin cotton — one of the symbols of Indian Independence. The colour white is a reference to truth and peace, while the Mandarin garnet represents the orange colour that is part of the Indian flag. The nib shows an image of Mahatma Gandhi, walking with a stick. In addition, the limitation of the Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition 3000 is symbolic for the masses of people who followed him during his fight for independence.” Nice thought, indeed, except for the fact that the pen got into some political trouble when people objected to the high price of this “925 sterling silver with fine textile structure on lacquered cap and barrel,” writing instrument. Many could not reconcile the Mahatama and his simplicity with the expensive pen (Rs 14 lakh or so) that sought to pay tribute to one of the greatest leaders of the world. As for Gandhi, he himself used simple pens, and in fact even the quill, which is a reed, shaped with a pen-knife, dipped in an inkwell, or its modified version that uses a nib that is affixed on a wooden handle and dipped into an inkwell. Talking of ink, it is ink that allows the pen to leave an indelible impression. Ink is basically a dye, which may have colour pigments in it. So important was ink to writing that there are many examples of ancient scriptures that have an extra folio on which the technique of ink-making is described. In spite of a long tradition of using pens and ink, the production of fountain pens in India is largely confined to those used by the masses, like the Camlin, Wilson and even Chelpark. There were also Chinese pens like Hero which was a knockoff of Parker. Expensive pens were the imported ones. A century ago, the real coming of age pen for most people was a Parker. Shafer was also popular, and these were pens which were gifted to rare students who graduated, or bought by people who could afford them. At the sidelines was a tradition of custom-made pens from manufacturers like Rajahmundry from Andhra Pradesh, which, inspired by the Swadeshi movement of Mahatama Gandhi, made pens that would not be imported. His descendants and some relatives continue to do so till today. Even though the fountain pen was eclipsed in numbers by new kinds of pens (see box), it has made a comeback as a luxury good. Made with exotic materials and in limited editions, fountain pens can cost a bundle, and have found an eager audience among discerning customers. Today it is the Montblanc or a Caran d’Ache, that’s a coming of age gift for the corporate set. Much of the written word has come to us through pens of various kinds. They become the vehicle for recording our thoughts. The sensuous gliding of the nib over paper, the mark left by the ink that this nib sensuously touches, the feel of the nib on paper, these are now elusive pleasures that we deny to ourselves even as we surrender to the immediacy of access and the convenience of tapping on keyboards. The pleasure of stealing away time from a keyboard and allowing ourselves to step back and use a pen becomes even more precious in a world dominated by tablets, smart phones and computers. Yes we can. Some of us do so, and those who can afford it, indulge themselves with limited edition versions made by the top pen-makers of the world.
Of fountains & rollerballs
The fountain pen, as we know it, evolved in time, and in many places. Developments in the UK, in France and in the US, along with the improvement of inks used by such pens led to reliable pens. Among those who made significant contribution were Josiah Mason of Birmingham, England, who improved the nibs, Petrache Poenaru the Romanian who patented the replaceable ink cartridge on May 25, 1827, Alonzo T. Cross of USA, A. A. Waterman, Walter A. Sheaffer, and George Safford Parker. That we still identify these names with pens speaks of their lasting impact, and of their business acumen. It took an impatient man, unhappy with the smudging and problems in refilling fountain pens to develop the first popular ball point pen. Now a ball point pen, as the name indicates has a small ball that picks up ink from the barrel and deposits it on paper as it rotates. It was a Hungarian newspaper editor Laszlo Biro, who got the idea of using a viscous ink like the one used for printing newspapers so that it would dry easily. His brother George was a chemist and together they produced a pen for which they sought a British patent on June 15, 1938. The ball pen is functional, and in time has virtually replaced the fountain pen as a mass market product. It is so inexpensively that often ballpoint pens are thought of as disposable products. The ink they use is oil-based, unlike fountain pens. Rollerball pens have evolved in time, and they require less pressure than ball pens to write because of mechanical improvements as well as using water-based inks, either liquid or jelly. As a rule, the expensive brands have started offering their customers rollerball pens rather than ball pens.
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Handbag Haven However, the impeccably dressed and status-conscious Indian women of today are moving away from plain handbags. “India is one of the largest market for accessories in Asia. It is fast becoming a resource for revenue in the luxury and premium market category globally,” informs Abhinav Kumar, CEO Brand Concepts, a premier online resource for licensed fashion handbags by brands like Rocky S, High 5, Back to School and Coco — luxe handbags by socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton in India. Owning an Louis Vuitton (LV) handbag, Fendi tote or a Prada satchel is a dream come true for every woman, who is a label freak. Carrie Bradshaw nailed it when she said “It’s just a little bag, but we feel nothing without it in public.”
There are quite a few international, fashion powerhouses that synonymy sheer class. Handbags from their staple are ideally meant for celebrities, royalty and the affluent, upper-crust of the society with a discriminating taste. Most of these companies are being run by family since their inception, which explains extreme dedication to quality and luxury. To fashion insiders, these designer handbags are as recognisable as a Picasso painting is to an art lover. And with most of these arm candies available in India, we now have an entire range of international big-wigs to choose from. From the legendary LV monogram and the iconic Hermes Birkin to the authentic Chanel and a heavily detailed Gucci or Burberry, the world’s most famous brands now have stores and online presence in India. Due to the prestige attached to these brands, their bags come with a very high cost and the resale and replica market is huge. Like the real Louis Vuitton (LV) purses sell for between several hundred and several thousand dollars, and the fake ones cost about 90 per cent less. No wonder, that this brand is so commonly counterfeited. In fact, counterfeiting is such a huge problem for the LV brand, it is estimated that almost 99 per cent of the so-called LV purses currently owned by people around the world are not authentic. Compared to other high-end brands, LV items make up almost 20 per cent of all imitation purses manufactured around the world each year. More importantly, one needs to be aware of the defining characteristics and logos of each of these high-end handbags to ensure genuineness. For example, an authentic Chanel bag is accompanied by an identity card which guarantees that your bag is a genuine Chanel product. The card contains a number that will be written on the inside of the product. To spot a genuine Fendi, the two F’s that face each other, one upside-down, is one of the most obvious features, (whether it’s a full pattern on the purse or just a metal accent on the front). An authentic Louis Vuitton handbag comes with a dust cover and an authenticity card. Also, the LV monogram will be symmetrical. Moreover, handbags by all these high-end brands flaunt top-notch quality, be it stitching, finishing or craftsmanship. And, if you are looking for the limited edition versions of these bags, you will have to brave a multi-year waiting lis! There are bags by Indian design houses and designers that have made their way into the domestic market. There’s home-grown leather goods firm Hidesign. Spearheaded by president and founder Dilip Kapur, it has become a truly saleable brand with global reach. Besides, there’s a growing breed of young accessory Indian designers, exclusively dealing in handbags. Indian handbag designer Meera Mahadevia has launched her couture collection of handbags, which is inspired by the big-fat-Indian wedding. Her clientele includes the who’s who of Bollywood . Mahadevia’s pouches and party clutches use the rich, jewel tones and semi-precious stones like emeralds and rubies. Even the techniques she uses (wood carving, theva work, inlay, engraving and halkari work) bespeak the glory of Indian art and craft. The USP of her line, she believes, is that all her designs are handcrafted by Indian artisans. “Every piece in this collection exudes the charm and resplendence of the royal past. It celebrates the contemporary Indian woman, who remains attached to her Indian roots,” says Mahadevia. In 2010, Bangalore-based Rachana Reddy recently floated “Lotus Sutra”, her artistically evocative collection of bespoke clutches, handcrafted by local artisans. This line predominantly consists of wooden, leather and silk clutches, with traditional accents such as lotus, paisley and jali work etched and carved into them delicately and filled in with luxurious fabrics. “Every clutch from my line comes with a detachable chain/leather handle, so they can be converted into small bags,” says the designer, who also retails in Chennai and Delhi. The Indian designer accessories scene was nascent five years ago, with just a handful of accessory designers. But today, the growth of designer handbags has been at a very encouraging rate of 20-25 per cent. Which is why, home-grown companies like Brand Concepts and Lavie are targeting tier-1 and tier-2 cities, apart from the metros. “We are targeting the tier-1, tier-2 cities in the first phase. The tier-2 cities have huge potential. People there too have budgets to spend on luxury products, but do not have enough windows to do so. All we are doing is giving them an opportunity to do so,” signs off Abhinav Kumar – CEO Brand Concepts.
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bling it on
CATWALK FOR DOGS Price: Ranges from $110 to $1,200
(Rs 5,500 to Rs 60,000)
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO… Price: 15 Oscar statues auctioned for $3 million (Around
Rs 15 crore)
A TOAST TO CHAMPAGNE Price: $16,000 per set of two bottles (Around
Rs 8 lakh)
VALET SERVICE Price: $225
(Around Rs 11,250)
SINGLED OUT Price: Likely to fetch around $30,000 (Around
Rs 15 lakh)
PICTURE THIS! Price: $625,000 (Around
Rs 3.125 crore)
GRAND EMPEROR OF CHOCLATES Price : $5,900 per kg
(Rs 2.95 lakh a kg)
FOR VIEWING PLEASURE Price: $5,00,000 (Around
Rs 2.5 crore)
THESE shoes ARE MADE FOR DRIVING Price: Yet to be announced
LITHOPHANE VOTIVE LIGHT-BUDDHA Price:
Rs 5,500
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Known for her high-impact, surreal self-portraits, Amritsar girl Noor Sandhu is the youngest self-portrait artist in India
Portrait of an artist as a young woman Anandita Gupta
Self
portraiture is a challenging arena because nobody assists you in executing your vision. You are the person behind the idea, the person behind the camera and the person in front of the camera. At 27, Amritsar girl Noor Sandhu has accomplished this quite well, becoming India's youngest self-portrait artist. Sandhu's first public showing, held at the Government College and Arts Gallery, Chandigarh in 2010, showcased black and white, self clicked, conceptual portraits of herself, accompanied by her poetry. The photographs depicted solitude, observation and reflection- stages that a young woman goes through. "Self-portraiture is quite frustrating during times when I am unable to get the results right. However, the learning process is amazing. I love this medium as it teaches me things, make me doubt, surprises me over and over and has many facets," beams the young artist, speaking about her all-consuming passion. Noor's passion for self portraiture photography blossomed quite surprisingly 'out of the blue'. Presently working as the HOD, Performing Arts Department at the Spring Dale School, Amritsar, Sandhu began her career as a journalist but moved on to photography in 2007. "I had been dabbling in photography, poetry and story-writing since childhood. After finishing my graduation from the Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, I went on to pursue my Masters in Mass Communication from PU, Chandigarh. This was followed by a job stint with a local newspaper. A camera always came handy while I was working on the field assignments. Gradually, I began doing conceptual work and suddenly self portraiture happened. I fused my passion for writing and clicking into theme-based self portraits." In 2011, Noor showcased her critically acclaimed exhibit, 'The Door Wide Open', on the children of Pingalwara, Amritsar, (a home for the disabled and homeless), in collaboration with UK based NGO, Hope and Compassion. "I showcased this exhibit across Punjab and online. The idea behind it was that special children are as 'normal' as anybody else and they deserve space in the mainstream. I put together shots that show that these children are as happy, as mischievous and as gifted as all of us," informs Noor. Currently, Noor is also working on the second draft of a children's book, besides an international portraits project with a Pakistani photographer, "Both of us were brought together by the common dream of the two nations being better neighbours."
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While
Most women reportedly miss a heartbeat when they see it. The Hermes Birkin bag, crafted with pure rose gold and studded with 1,160 diamonds, is any woman's ultimate fantasy. 
This ultra-sassy tote in Vermillion red by Fendi is a must-have accessory this season. Crafted by combining Strawberry red calfskin with tonal topstitching and golden hardware, the leather style is crafted intricately, using around a 100 manufacturing options during production! The two-way zippers are weighty and secured well. The seams are completely straight and the lining comes in Jacquard. It’s made of high-quality materials, down to the smallest detail. 
This hobo-bag with a schoolbag like buckle looks striking in its purple-blue colour. It belongs to the summer collection of the Italian brand Da Milano. The handbag comes with quality guarantee, which is the trademark of the brand's identity. Its comfortable double straps in leather make it easy to carry. A perfect accompaniment for travel, the bag comes in butter-soft scratch-proof leather. The plain leather and the vibrant colour is a direct forecast from international podiums, chosen by the finest Italian designers to appeal to the extensively travelled! 
This earthy blue bucket bag by Woods is a part of the latest Spring Summer 2012 collection by Woodland. This formal range has been designed keeping in mind the aesthetics, functionality, and urban designs — apt for the contemporary working woman. The roomy bucket bag is made for all occasions. One can go to work, college, or even shopping with the bag. It is made in leather and is apt for a day out in summers. 
The girlish handbag designed by Paris Hilton proudly accentuates and defines your inner diva. Sleek and edgy, the pearl-white, quilted arm candy by the house of Mannequin can be an asset for any young, working woman.
Evoke the elegance and 'lady-like' charm in you, by carrying the Lady. This classy, yet modern piece of arm-candy is fashioned with square stitches and a square crown and diamond front hardware. Easy to wear and feminine, it is perfect for a refined outfit thanks to its classical shape and delicate looking but resistant materials. A slim compact, a lipstick, and one or two keys will probably fit nicely in it, without creating a bulge in your handbag. 
"The Jackie." Creative Director Frida Giannini, who first debuted the New Jackie on the Spring/Summer 2009 Gucci runway, has shered this classic Gucci style into present. The twist on its construction is compounded by a fresh, cloud white colour. The bag flaunts a beige-ebony Diamante fabric, with champagne colour metallic leather trim, hand-stitching and tassels. The graphic gold plaques give an art deco nod while the opulent chain tassel detail adds a 1920s flare. Iconic details in brass hardware embellish minimalist lines. Corners are rigid, polished and engraved with the Gucci logo, and the playful jewel tassels are hand-crafted in micro metallic chains and applied to the strap. Not surprisingly, each New Jackie bag requires a minimum of seven hours to make. 
Gucci delved into its accessories archives for their collection of SS12, and took inspiration from vintage pieces to create the 1970s shoulder bags. Though ultra-soft handbag looks luscious with its lush green leather. The simple shoulder bag shape is offset with a chain strap detailing — the brass metal chain, corners and a tassel. A symbol of the eternal balance between tradition and innovation, the Gucci 1970 bag comes in both maxi and medium sizes and is versatile and multi-functional — perfect from day to evening.
The bright red and navy-blue tote, with patches of animal prints looks youthful. The large size, zip closure, internal zip pocket and optional shoulder strap make this synthetic shoulder bag ideal for carrying it to college. This large and open tote bag from the house of Miss Sixty, comes with a handle centered at the top on each side. Besides regulars, it can also hold gadgets and gizmos and hence, is ideal for travel. With its high-quality, custom fabrication, the handbag looks haute, yet with a casual, downtown edge. Meant for the young, sophisticated women, who love quirky yet glamorous style
Louis Vuitton, the brand's 2012 Spring/Summer Collection brings the Speedy back into the spotlight, though in a softer, plumper variation of itself. Sweet and ultra-feminine, the day-to-night pochette has an eggshell yellow lambskin body, swinging from a dainty silver chain. The butter-soft lambskin is embroidered with the Monogram pattern in tiny cross-stitches. The flap is fastened by a tiny silver S-lock — a miniaturized version of the one that has secured Louis Vuitton trunks since the 19th century — which is one of the season's emblematic details. 
Another scorcher by the style staple of Paris Hilton. The glossy, mirrored-surface is inspired by big city-life with skyscrapers and shiny glass facades. Ideally for a bright, young fashionista who loves a dash of bling to get her talent shining.
The structured hobo is yet another star of the season from the house of Burberry. The little leather clutch flaunts a tribal-esque beaded motif in a strikingly bright colour combination of black, turquoise and yellow. It also uses Burberry's 80-year-old, signature 'check pattern.' The bag has a crescent-shape and a unique seam. There are no straps incorporated so that the bag can be held in hand, giving it the required focus, that a classy accessory deserves. It can be easily taken from day (with jeans) to night (a little solid coloured dress so that the colour combo on the clutch stands out)!
An interesting take on the theme of transparency, LV has introduced the Minibasket, keeping with the sweetly naïve spirit of its Spring Summer 2012 Collection. Ctrafted in patent calfskin, which is simultaneously perforated and embossed to create a three-dimensional effect. Just in case, its owner has anything to hide, each basket contains a removable drawstring pouch in tonal jacquard, woven with the monogram pattern.Coveted for its high quality and timeless style, the handbag is meant for the arms of celebrities and women who appreciate fine fashion. 
If you are a trendy person should your dog be far behind? Not at all, if Roberto Cavalli has his way. The legendary Italian designer has produced a range of luxury dog wear to make your pooch look dainty and stylish. The highlight of the exclusive canine couture are a series of rhinestone-studded shirts and coats, stylish jerseys, printed fleece T-shirts, tracksuits, satin-trimmed bathrobes and silk printed shorts. 
Unlike the macho stars, he has no sex appeal. He doesn't even command a massive fortune but costs only $75. Yet this one-foot high golden statue has the mightiest stars vying for his favour. Not just the stars now it seems anyone with money and a taste for memorabilia wants an Oscar. Two days after the Oscar Ceremony this year, 15 of these iconic statues were auctioned in Los Angeles. Though winners are banned from auctioning or selling them, these statues were won before 1950 when the ban did not apply. And for those who took home the Oscar from the auction it is a trophy they will treasure all their lives.
It's a bubbly that will make other champagne makers froth in the mouth. To mark its bicentenary Perrier-Jouet's has brought out a limited edition of 100 two-bottle sets of the Living Legacy champagne in March last year. Expectedly most of them have been snapped up and just a dozen or so remain unsold. Of the two bottles one is for immediate consumption and the other is to be passed on to the future generations. The two bottles come in two different boxes numbered and signed designer American artist Daniel Arsham. 
It's a symbol of sophistication and elegance. A chair-cum-wardrobe all rolled into one. At the backrest is a contoured heavy-duty coat hangar and also a tie and belt organiser. There is also a no-crease bar to hang your trousers on. Under the seat is a partitioned drawer where you can keep accessories like combs and brushes, cuff and tie links, socks, handkerchiefs, shoe care stuff and also deodorants and perfumes. So if you are looking for a personal valet, then this is it..
We all know that the Beatles were one of the greatest music groups the world has ever seen. But Beatles as a back-up band for a little known singer? Not many people know that the Fab Four gave music for rock-and-roll singer Tony Sheridan in 1962. The result was the single My Bonnie & the Saints, which was an instant flop and most of the 45 RPM records were consigned to the garbage bin. Only 25 copies remain and one of them is going up for auction later in the year. Go for it if you have an ear for music! 
It's over half a century old and yet it has outpriced some of the most sophisticated cameras ever made. Manufactured in 1958 the Leica MP2 is just one of the six which were ever manufactured. No one knows where the other five are but this one was in the possession of Westlicht gallery, a museum of photography equipment in Vienna from where it was auctioned to an unknown Asian collector. Rumour is that it may be put on the block again. If you have the moolah, go bid for it!
It is guaranteed to leave a lingering sweet taste in your mouth for a long, long time. The Chocopologie by American chocolatier Fitz Knipschildt, is the world's most exclusive chocolate. This amazing chocolate is made with 70 percent Valrhona cocoa powder that gives it a very intense and pure taste. The cocoa is blended into a creamy ganache. It is hand-rolled with a dark truffle on the inside and then dusted with cocoa powder for the great flavour. The Chocopologie is available only by pre-order.
It's a picture worth seeing. Panasonic has brought out a 152-inch 3-D plasma television. It is the biggest ever TV that weighs a whopping 600 kg and has four times as many pixels as a high-definition (HD) TV. That, in effect means that it can create a 3-D image in HD resolution. Equivalent to nine 50-inch screens, this huge display immerses the viewer in lifelike images and with surround sound. Even a cinema hall experience pales before it. 
On the face of it a car manufacturer should have little to do with shoes. Yet, Aston Martin, the British luxury sports car company has collaborated with exclusive footwear brand John Lobb to create a line of shoes that will make driving a real pleasure. Called Winner Sport, the shoes have been made with super-soft calfskin with the ankle padded with velvety material to give the wearer maximum comfort. You can get your hands (oops feet!) on the red-laced and red-soled super luxury shoes from May 2012 in selected stores around the world.
Across the globe, Lladró is known for its high-quality porcelain figurines. This lithophane includes a battery-powered LED for illumination, although candles of a fitting size can also be used. Upon turning on the LED or lighting the candle, the transparency of the porcelain makes the light enhance the engravings. The depicted image is the Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. The Buddha is represented with his hands in the dhyana position, with the hands forming a cup or bowl in a meditation pose. This image appears on the front and the back of the lithophane. On the right and left sides are the attributes of Buddha — the lotus represents rebirthing and spiritual growth, and the two peacocks that sustain his throne and symbolise the fire element. 