PACESETTERS Nanaki & Shagun
Wedded to creativity
The duo quit corporate careers to launch Pattaree, a design company which gives a royal touch to weddings
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

IT is not an easy decision for to quit a six-digit, salaried corporate job and walk into the unexplored world of business in creativity. Nanaki Singh, a 30-year-old architect and senior manager with the corporate sector in Bangalore after an MBA, tookthe plunge. Her classmate Shagun Bawa, who had a flourishing media marketing job in England, did the same.

No wonder once they started sharing their experiences on the telephone, something clicked. The two packed their bags and came back home to Chandigarh. The idea the duo had conceptualised, blossomed into Pattaree (Magic Box), a wedding design company, at a friend’s house. They provide "magnificently royal" touches to weddings. Pattaree provides customised gift-wrapping services in unique Indian ethnic designs and colours for weddings.

The duo’s designs featured in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Windsor and drew an encouraging response. As Nanaki says, "It was not just about making a new beginning in our lives, the decision was more about leaving the comfort zone of our pretty decent jobs." Shagun too feels "The concept of a marriage has changed absolutely. From a family gathering involving nearly everyone in its execution, the function was now more of a package event. The food prepared by all women of the family has been outsourced to caterers. In the same fashion, it is not merely stitching a certain number of suits." Pattaree gives a package with exquisite products, including wari suitcases, new-age vanity cases, customised shagun boxes ,vintage mehendi bottles, off-beat "Just Married" signs and much more.

Shagun says "There was always something in our lives we think we missed after we had progressed in the normal course of our lives. It was a very daring step when we walked out of our jobs into the world of our preference, without any experience."

Nanaki Singh had shown signs of creativity when as a young student from the Chandigarh College of Architecture she had won accolades for designing the war memorial in Bougainvillea Garden, Chandigarh. She went on to do her MBA from the US and joined Hewlett Packard.

Shagun Bawa, with a keen eye for design and detail, argued that there was a market for ideas that fulfilled public expectations. Giving free vent to their creative streak, she believed her capability of innovating for meeting the ever-increasing public demand would also provide financial yields in the long run.

Pattaree means a magic box. Staying true to its name, Pattaree has introduced never-seen-before products as well as brought a touch of magic into the lives of all those it has touched.

CENTRESPREAD
SHADES of Style
Elegant eyewear is fast becoming a wardrobe essential for the fashion-conscious. The trend is to look classy and stylish in sunglasses, which give your personality that extra edge
Shobita Shivshankar

THESE are stylish. These are hip. Such is the craze for sunglasses that those who cannot afford a Versace, Gucci, Christian Dior or Ray-Ban, pick up a replica. Sunglasses are fast-becoming an essential fashion accessory. Gone are the days when wearing a pair was considered exotic. Be it a corporate honcho, a beauty queen or the girl-next-door, everyone is sporting sleek shades to make a statement. The buzzword is to look elegant and stylish in shades that give your personality that extra edge.

Choosing the right pair for your eyes is the first step. The new technology has brought us a variety of new materials for the lenses, which make these durable, lightweight and stylish.

Changing trends

A few years ago, the size of the eyepieces was so big that these covered almost half the face. But today, the look is more understated. Smaller frames are in. Plastic frames spell class. The seductive gold-framed Ray-Ban seems to be evergreen and the frames from Armani make a bold statement of elegance.

Colourful frames are back in a big way. The preferred hues are blue, pink and orange. The retro-look too is back and the Polo Ralph Lauren classical sunglasses are vying for top honours, along with Versace and Armani. Louis Vuitton’s millionaire sunglasses have caught the fancy but only millionaires can buy these.

Besides being a fashion accessory, quality sunglasses help to protect the eyes from harmful UV sunrays. Thus those expensive Armanis or Ray-Bans you bought not only make you look chic but also shield your eyes.

Mark of sophistication

Many shades come with additional features like anti-glare and anti-reflection making the old lenses a thing of past. These coatings are similar to those found on microscopes and camera lenses. There are also scratch–resistant lenses that protect these from any damage. These are made up of impact-resistant material polycarbonate and are generally preferred for young people.

Meteoric demand

In 1992 when Bausch & Lomb entered the Indian market with Ray-Ban, research showed that the average upper middle class urban consumer listed sunglasses as No. 14 on a list of 15 Premium Personal Accessories.

Today these have raced up and rank in Gen Y’s list of top five must-haves. Going by this meteoric demand, a number of leading foreign brands like Burberry, Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, Versace and a host of others have either opened sales outlets in India or are available online from a host of e-retailers.

These leading brands have brought sunglasses in all shapes, sizes and styles. Every year fashions change and old ones are replaced by new trends. The sedate octagon style has given way to wayfarers and the cat-eye look though the Aviators remain evergreen. Bright colours and reflectors with mirror colours are pass`E9 and the gradient shield lenses and tortoise frames are in.

The Indian buyer today knows what’s ‘in’ both in India and the West. Sunglasses worn by stars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez are a rage in India.

Assembly line of fakes

However, there is a downside to these exclusive shades. Their high prices have spawned an assembly line of fakes. However, eye experts warn that the fake sunglasses are bad for the eyes as these are usually made from non-standard and cheap glass. The best thing is to save up and buy the real stuff. Branded sunglasses may burn a hole in your pocket but it will mean a whole new you.

EYE COOLERS THOUGH the Aviators are the best known, there are a number of other styles that sunglasses can be categorised in. Some of the most prominent styles are listed below: Aviator sunglasses: The iconic sunglass originally designed for aviator pilots in 1936 by Bausch & Lomb and branded as Ray-Ban is, without doubt, the best-known style for more than 50 years, and is still as popular as it was then. Wayfarer sunglasses: Unlike the teardrop shape of the aviator, the lens of the wayfarer is trapezoidal or a quadrilateral having two parallel sides. This is the only style that has posed a serious challenge to the aviators. Wraparound sunglasses: As the name suggests, the wraparound is a semi-circular lens that wraps around your eyes. It is made from plastic or its derivatives and the nose-bridge too is carved from the single lens. Oversized sunglasses: First made famous by Jacqueline Kennedy, the oversized sunglasses were very popular in the 1960s through to the 1990s. However, these are making a comeback now. Mirrored sunglasses: These are special sunglasses with a reflective coating on the outer surface. These have been made famous by Tom Cruise, and more recently Katy Perry and Jamie Winstone.

Cartier Horn, Wood, Gold Sunglasses Going by the Cartier designs, the retro look is making waves again. Its luxurious horn, wood and gold sunglasses are cool, stylish and hot. The oval-shaped shades with tinted lenses will even look great in prescription glasses. With gold temples and the Cartier symbol, these are a class apart both in style and craftsmanship. Price Rs 46,750 ($850)

Louis Vuitton Oversize Flower Sunglasses These outlandish sunglasses from the 2012 limited edition waves Louis Vuitton collection have been designed by renowned Japanese avant-garde artist, Yayoi Kusama. The polka-dotted yellow-framed sunglasses are not just for shock appeal. These have the LV quality guarantee. With 100 per cent UV protection, these have graduated lenses and lock gold hinges. Price Rs 33,550 ($610)

Versace Crystal Medusa Collection For its new Crystal Medusa collection, Versace takes inspiration from its jewellery line to create a stunning pair of shades. A sophisticated, super-feminine symbol of style and elegance, Crystal Medusa is characterised by a vivid, bright and exuberant look, enriched by the sublime glamour and contemporary refinement of Versace. Price Rs 20,000

Bvlgari Special Edition The Bvlgari Special Edition 856B sunglasses are among the very best. The flower special edition has superb styling. These combine classical Greek and Roman motifs with a contemporary look. The distinctive shades are a rage among the glitterati. Sharon Stone is hardly ever seen without these. Price Rs 27,500 ($500)

Gucci White Diamante Rimless Sunglasses The large rimless wrap frame sunglasses with crystal heart-shaped Gucci’s ‘G’ logo are from the Fashion Glasses For Ladies 2012 collection. This is an absolutely unique style presented in a warmly feminine way. The curves add to the appeal. These are the newest and trendiest way to make a style statement. Price Rs 17,600 ($320)

Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarers For 75 years, Ray-Ban has enjoyed an amazing name recognition and brand distinction. Though it has come to be associated with the classic aviators, its wayfarers, too, are considered the ultimate fashion statement. The Ray-Ban RB 4105 folding wayfarers, redesigned with hinges at the bridge and mid temple, are guaranteed to up your style quotient. Price Rs 8,190

Hugo Boss Keyhole Flatbar Sunglasses Bright colours and reflectors with mirror colours are passé. The new look is more over-stated and in-your-face. There’s no better way to update your wardrobe into looking more sophisticated than by getting the Hugo Boss keyhole sunglasses that have been trendy ever since these were introduced and will be in vogue for a long, long time. Price Rs 12,375 ($225)

D&G 18-K Gold Aviators This is one pair of sunglasses you will just fall in love with. The Dolce and Gabanna Special Gold Edition aviators 18k gold with polarised crystal green lens and 18-karat gold frame are the epitome of extravagance. With fans like Brad Pitt, these are a must for the wannabe superstar. These come in a special edition presentation box. Price Rs 32,450 ($590)

Prada Stylish Sunglasses There is something about the Prada sunglasses that spells class. Women can flaunt their style in the stylish Prada PR 22MS sunglasses. The spectacular black plastic frames feature a grey, gradient shield lens and a Prada logo with metal lettering along the arms. Worn by many celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton, these are regarded as a status symbol. Price Rs 13,475 ($245)

Polo Ralph Lauren Classical Sunglasses When it comes to sunglasses, Polo Ralph Lauren has very few peers. Its PH 4053 model is no ordinary pair of sunglasses. The classically inspired shades with green grey lens colour are timeless in design and have the signature style that embodies most of the Polo Ralph Lauren collections. The tortoise frame has the Polo logo that gives it an exclusive class. Price Rs 5,775 ($105)

Chanel Tortoise Sunglasses These are the ultimate in style and sophistication. The Italian-made Chanel 6018 sunglasses in a stunning tortoise shell colour with the famous double C logo on the sides are chic and opulent. Such is the appeal sunglasses with oversized lenses that these will add value to the wardrobe of any fashionista as a great daywear accessory. Price Rs 15,125 ($275)

Emporio Armani Bono Sunglasses Emporio Armani features not just high-end ready-to-wear clothes but also accessories. And its sunglasses usually set global trends in eyewear. Its Bono sunglasses have got their name from rock band U2 lead vocalist Bono, who wears these due to light-sensitive eyes. The rimless polycarbonate lenses have become conic because of the association. Price Rs 8,635 ($157)

Christian Dior Cream Cat-Eye Sunglasses This pair has vintage written all over it. It brings memories of the glamorous stars of the 1950s. The super cool retro Christian Dior round cat-eye sunglasses have a rich cream chunky plastic frame and blue-black lenses. The famous logo ‘CD’ is engraved in a gold colour on each arm. This is an elegant pair that harks back to an era gone by. Price Rs 12,925 ($235)

Burberry Foldable Sunglasses These come in many hues and are foldable at the centre which changes them into a petite, portable size. The Burberry Square Frame Foldable Sunglasses with gradient lenses and the metallic plaque engraved with the Burberry logo offer 100 per cent UV protection, making these eye-coolers one of the hottest accessories. Price Rs 13,650