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Groom
boom
PACESETTERs Manjari and Avni
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Groom
boom Many miles away in Mumbai, 37-year-old corporate lawyer Mohit Sidhwa follows a similar routine. Sundays are spent in an upmarket men’s parlour where he goes for a deep-peeling facial and eye maintenance that includes a soothing eye massage to reduce puffiness, diminishing the fine lines of ageing and also eyebrow shaping and eyelash tinting.
Grooming procedures
According to a study by global research firm Eurometer International, the Indian male grooming market is now worth a mindboggling Rs 3,790 crore growing at an annual rate of 22 per cent. Helping the booming business are brands such as US-based Wahl Clipper Corporation which has set shop in India as Wahl India Grooming Products, and others leading names like Lakme, Gillette, Garnier, Nivea, Fiama Di Wills, Olay and many more which are launching an array of male beauty creams, deodorants, shampoos, bleaches and other products that pass off as the ‘make-up’ for the metrosexual male. The primary aim of these products is to mask imperfections like a hint of wrinkles or puffiness under the eyes. Looking good has become a power thing for upwardly mobile men. Rishi Sehgal, a 29-year-old software engineer, says, “More than anything, there is a certain amount of status consciousness involved and expensive cosmetics and salons are helping the modern man improve his image. Not many can afford to spend of Rs 2,500 a week on grooming, so it is a status issue as well.” But Rs 2,500 is a modest sum. Stylish salons like Metodo Rossano Ferretti at the Oberoi Hotel in Gurgaon can charge between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500 for a men’s haircut. The most popular services at the salon include balayage (a French colouring technique where colour is applied by hand) which comes for Rs 5,000 onwards, Richesse (non-ammonia) hair colouring from 2,500 onwards, Highlights from 3,500 and new look hair from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500. So, what exactly does the metrosexual male have on his list when he walks into a parlour? The entire gamut seems to be in line. He goes in for pedicures, manicures, facials and in advanced salons he wants even more drastic treatments like skin tightening, non-surgical face lifts, facial massage for that glowing complexion, sculpting and defining eyebrows and procedures to remove wrinkles and sagging skin. Little wonder then that among the fastest growing men’s segments are skin-care, non-shaving products like facial cleansers, moisturisers and exfoliants. Such is the demand for male grooming that Shahnaz Husain says that men are the largest untapped market in the world. And now, because of the awakening of male vanity this business is bound to flourish. Addy Bhasin, a thirty something advertising executive who goes salon-crawling on weekends, says, “I don't understand why such a big fuss is being made about male vanity. In western countries men are extremely conscious of their looks. It's not as if only women have a right over beauty and fashion. Men are becoming equally aware and have, at times, even more freedom to use beauty aids than women. But since it is a new phenomenon in India that's why everyone is suddenly noticing it." Interestingly, today’s vainest are not just the guys on the cusp of middle age. Many of them are well into their late forties and early fifties — men still relatively ‘young’ and successful. And dammit, they want to stay that way! Hyper glamorous
There are also the younger men, in their late teens and tweens who aspire to be hyper fashionable and glamorous. It is these men who get their backs waxed, eyebrows tweezed and even have hair removed from their chests. Even as successful men discover the purchasing power of money as far as looks go, it is giving them a whole new confidence about themselves. Says Naveen Walecha, owner of Follicles, a Delhi-based salon “Men actually have advantage over women in the grooming department because shaving acts as an exfoliating procedure giving the skin a youthful look." Walecha’s exclusive salon for men has all age groups — corporate heads, bureaucrats and models — walking in for scrubs and even body treatments. “Many successful men certainly wish to change the way they look. Mostly, it is men in their forties or fifties who come to me to get a facelift or a manicure and pedicure.” Call it the mid life crisis or the fact that by the time they are in their early forties they have settled down into their jobs, they have done a lot for their families and they have a little more time and a lot more money to think about the way they should be grooming themselves. Changing perceptions “Earlier men thought it was not macho to spend time on looking good. The perception was that only men with gay tendencies went to salons to get unwanted hair removed. At the most, men were game only for a good hair cut and a shave. But now perceptions have drastically changed. Men are fast realising that looking good helps in every walk of life and they are as fussy as women when it comes to grooming routines,” says Walecha. Most experts and leaders in the world of fashion auger this as a good step forward. After all, the Indian man has always lagged behind his foreign counterparts when it comes to presenting himself properly. Indeed, as stressful and sedentary lives play havoc on the ageing process, men realise that drastic efforts are needed to keep the hands of time away. Thus a little hair transplant and dapper clothes do wonders in pushing the years back. And if that doesn't work then there is the `deep facial peel' as a way to cosmetically remove the dead cells for that radiant skin. Male vanity is here to stay.
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It's
a piece of furniture that every student and working professional should own. A study table is not just a necessity but should ideally add to the decor of the house. Time was when it was need-based and the emphasis was on heavy, sturdy and durable tables that would last the children through their years in school and college. However, like all things beautiful, the study table has now moved out of the realm of the mundane. No longer a boring, functional buy, it today makes a personality statement. Style and ideas tend to reflect a person’s myriad moods. There is no one individual trend. Many of today’s study tables are a blend of artistic Indian and chic western, a mix of the modern and the traditional or simply a synthesis of the kitsch and elegance, all of which come together to create a work area that echoes the owner’s persona.
Buying tips Practicality and use are very important design principles as the right — or wrong — study table can make the difference between a productive day or a stressful and a disoriented one. Consider the following questions while buying a study table. Where does it go in the house? Should it be used strictly as a work desk or will it be both versatile in addition to being multifaceted? Should it enhance the decor of the room by doubling up as a piece of furniture, or should it have a stand-alone individuality? It is very important to identify the study table that is right for your job. That’s because when you love your study table, then you will enjoy being stuck behind it all day. Many interior decorators suggest that it should be among the most important furniture needed in the home. It should be cosy and relaxing so that those who spend time behind it for lengthy hours should feel no discomfort or distraction. The market has on offer an amazing variety of study tables. There are the plain vanilla types that suit those who have a no-nonsense approach to studying or working. The plain ones usually comprise tables with two to three drawers and a matching chair. Depending on the kind of material used, these can cost anywhere between Rs 3,000 and Rs 8,000.
Storage space Then, there are those workstations, which have much more storage space than the mandatory drawers. These will have a slider tray for a computer keyboard, a built-in book shelf, closed cabinets for keeping important documents and files, open racks for display as also storage space for paper, stationary and other knick knacks. These can cost between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000, or even higher depending on the kind of facilities. Finely, there are the ornate study tables which are made from Burma teak or oak or any other fine wood and may have carving and grooving on them. Though they are great to work on, these are valued more for their workmanship and can liven up the interiors. Such lavish study tables can cost anywhere upwards of Rs 50,000. However, before venturing out to buy a study table, you must be clear in your mind about your specific needs. Consider the following: If you are a professional, do you need it for a home or office? Or, if you are a student do you need it for studying long hours? You will have to determine the kind of work you are going to do on the study table.
Computer workstation If your work generally revolves around a computer, then you will need a special workstation meant for using a PC. Besides having a slider tray for the keyboard, it should also have a compartment for a CPU under the table and preferably a wiring hole in which the computer cables can neatly pass through without getting entangled with each other. If your work also involves use of a lot of paperwork, then you should go in for a study table that has plenty of space to put those papers in. You can think of buying one that has an overhead shelve and small cabinets for files and other paraphernalia. According to experts, it will be best to go in for a study table that has provisions both for a computer as well as desk space. This can be an L-shaped or U-shaped table or, if you like to keep things simple, go in for one that is big enough to fulfil both the requirements.
Individual style When buying a study table, it is important to focus on your individual style and the kind of work you do. If you like a quiet, uncluttered work area, then you will not be comfortable working on a small table that is crowded, tangled and jumbled up. Remember, it is imperative that you don’t go for a table that looks good as a showpiece in a showroom. You must consider your needs and requirements before purchasing one. And once you have determined what you want, only then should you think about trends and styles. However, one should keep in mind that trendy does not mean study tables that are not durable. Buy a work desk that is both hardy and elegant and which will keep looking good even when styles change. Functionality, looks and exclusivity are the buzzwords when it comes to going out and buying a study table for yourself.
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Bling it on
LOUNGING IN STYLE
price: Rs 2.70 lakh onwards ($4,500)
MUSIC FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
auctioned for: Rs 8.70 crore ($1.45 million)
‘COOL’ FAN
price: Rs 10,500 ($175)
BATMOBILE RETURNS
price: Rs 1.20 crore ($200,000)
RITZY ROADSTER
price: Rs 15 lakh for a DIY kit and ~18 lakh for a fully assembled car (£15,000 and £18,000)
ROBOT ON A BUDGET
price: Rs 21 lakh ($35,000)
DEATH WATCH
price: Rs 2,400 ($40)
WEARABLE FITNESS TRACKER
price: Rs 9,000 ($150)
PORSCHE'S PENMANSHIP
price: Rs 60,000 (£600)
INTELLIGENT DUMBBELLS
price: Yet to be announced
A RIDE BACK IN TIME
price: Rs 2.55 lakh (3,000 euros)
BASKETFUL OF GOODIES
price: Rs 45,000 (£450)
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This duo makes travel enjoyable Manjari and Avni, founders of a holiday-planning company, are set to explore new areas Vibha Sharma
Both of them were passionate about travelling, so they were often asked by family and friends for expert advice in planning the travels. “Both of us individually knew that one day we would want to own a holiday planning company, that would make life easy for everyone by helping them at every stage.” When they got chatting, they realised that they shared the same views and vision about travel and they decided to pool in their resources to start together rather than as each other's competitor. They did not want to start a typical travel company. Broken Compass was born. They christened it so, in tune with their philosophy – “off the regular path”. It is when one deviates from a fixed route, that one actually gets to see the world. Broken Compass is primarily into customised holiday planning. They also plan luxury holidays that are exclusive and high end. The duo plans group trips which have been domestic so far. By the end of the year, they intend to undertake group trips — food and drinks, adventure, exploration etc. as well as international group trips. They ensure that somewhere during the holiday one would see something more than what one expected. Guests are treated to some surprises which they come to know only during their holidays. It could be a lunch at an organic farm in Scotland, a customised dinner or a white horse ride on beach, followed by a private barbeque on a Greek island. “We gauge the market and trends and what people seem to like and ask for. On the basis of our research, we keep modifying our offerings.” They work around a client’s budget. “We believe in being very transparent with our clients so if we feel that that particular holiday is not possible in a specified budget, we put that down and once we have reached an understanding of what would work best, only then begin planning.” On an average, they have done 80 fully customised trips and around 5-8 group trips every year. After its launch in 2009, with a nominal investment of Rs 10,000, their company has grown to a turnover of Rs 1.7 crore in 2012. They are not the ones to get complacent and are set to conquer bigger feats. They also plan to get into corporate holidays. “With so many planned projects, in the next five years, we see ourselves as a leading tailor-made holiday planning company, with more established roots in the industry.”
Avani and Manjari are big believers of “following one's dreams.”
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SUNDAY mornings are special for 32-year-old Girish
Sawant, a senior manager with a Gurgaon-based multinational. It is his ‘me’ time that he spends in a salon-cum-spa that has a steam, sauna and a jacuzzi besides high-end men’s grooming section. After he’s done with the heat treatments, he heads to the salon for a leisurely shave and a facial that includes face bleaching and body polishing for exfoliating and hydrating the skin.
Friends
Between them, Girish and Mohit spend upwards of Rs 10,000 every Sunday. But they are not alone. An increasing number of high networth Indian men are collectively spending crores on grooming procedures like intensive facials, body wraps and scrubs, deep-cleansing masks, waxing, bronzing, guy-liners (eye liners) and a host of other therapies and products to look as good or, at times, better than that models on the TV or ramp. There is a whole segment of services and products catering to men from 18 to 80. The 'Complete Man' is no longer a figment of imagination. 
ROUNDED EDGES
FOR KIDS WHO GROW UP FAST 
FUN TIME 
FAB & FUNKY 
CAR STUDY
‘MISS’ STUDY TABLE
ROLL TOP 
STYLISH YET PLAYFUL 
WORK FROM HOME 
WINNING STRATEGY 
ART NOUVEAU 
PEPPERMINT PUPIL 
It’s been 50 years since the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman were first created by Charles and Ray Eames for the American Herman Miller Furniture Company. Since then it has been featured in movies and stage shows. Though the original is a part of the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, there have been countless replicas of the timeless piece of furniture that have been adorning the living rooms and studies of the high rollers for over half a century. The quintessential modern classic is now available in an expanded range of materials and is guaranteed to make an instant style statement.
sailing vessel still borders on the obsessive. A violin, which is believed to have been played as the ship sank, has recently been auctioned. The sea-corroded instrument, now unplayable, belonged to bandmaster Wallace Hartley, who was among the 1,500 victims. The German-made violin has a silver plate screwed onto the base with the engraving…For Wallace, on the occasion of our engagement. From Maria. A spokesperson of the Henry Aldridge & Son the world’s top collector of ocean liner memorabilia says the violin was the “rarest and most iconic” piece of Titanic memorabilia. Needless to say the buyer, who bid over the phone, wished to remain anonymous.
Bored of your creaky old box fan? If yes, then it may be time to switch to the spherical teardrop-shaped fan with a unique honeycomb design that channels the breeze generated from the blades inside-out to all the corners of the room. The fan by Japan’s Idea International features three strength modes, three timer modes and a handy remote to control this seemingly organic alien airflow pod from across the room. It is not surprising that the unusual fan has won the prestigious "Best of the Best” Red Dot Design Award which is an annual honour for groundbreaking product design. It is not just an eye candy for the beholder but has earned an instant ‘fan’ following.
Batmobile customised from the one-off Lincoln Futura concept car. Almost half a century later, the car has hit the road again. The officially licensed replica of Batmobile is being sold by online retailing giant Hammacher Schlemmer and despite its steep price it is getting car lovers by the hordes. The monster 430-horsepower crime-fighting cruiser comes equipped with an afterburner, a blinking Batphone and a rotating red beacon which would flash when pursuing fiendish criminals. As a bonus, the replica has been hand signed by the stars of the 1966 Batman TV show, Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Merriweather, and Julie Newmar bringing back a wave of nostalgia for Batman fans.
specialises in lightweight sports models has outdone itself with its about-to-be-launched Seven 160. Though the roofless two-seater may not be a great option as a vehicle for daily use, it is a great jalopy for weekends. It is powered by an 80-bhp 660cc Suzuki three-cylinder turbo that propels the car to a 6.5-second 0-96.5 km/h. Though these may be modest numbers but the roadster’s charm lies in its looks and sharp handling of the road.
It is a robot that can see where it's going, move itself around and manipulate objects using its arm. So, what’s so great about that, you’d ask? Japan and America have been making such robots for some time now. The answer is that UBR-1 costs almost a tenth of similar robots and does an equal amount of work. Created by US-based Unbound Robotics, UBR-1 is what the industry calls a mobile manipulator — a robot with an arm and gripper that moves around on wheels and interacts with objects. One of its additional features is that it has a telescopic trunk for added height when it needs it. A sequel to a similar robot called PR2 by the same company that costs $4,00,000 the UBR-1scores more than just on the price front over most other similar robots.
What’s a good time to die? Just check the watch on your wrist and you will come to know exactly how much time you’ve got left on the earth. The Tikker Watch is a kickstarter project by Swedish inventor Fredrik Colting with a special function that gives you an estimation of how long you have left to live. The watch estimates your life expectancy based on a questionnaire and converts the answers into a countdown display in years, months, days, minutes, and seconds you have before you meet your Maker. But the watch is just not meant to be a death vigil. It also tells the time. And rather accurately for that matter!
second-generation version of the recently released Nike Fuelband has vastly improved features, including an upgrade to the lower-power Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity that allows the device to automatically synchronise its data to an iPhone. The wearable fitness tracker allows its wearers to track the physical activity, steps taken daily and amount of calories burned. And best of all, the new version keeps pushing the owner to move on and burn as many calories in a day as one possibly can.
then, Porsche is not just in the business of cars. Believe it or not, the German auto giant also makes some of the best writing instruments in the world. Take, for example, the Porsche Design Tec Flex fountain pen in black. Made in collaboration with Faber Castell, the body of the pen is made of the same cable sheath as the Porsche car, which creates a holographic 3-D effect as light bounces off it. With an 18-carat gold rhodanised nib, its radial ground finish guarantees an optimum stroke and makes this an extremely luxurious pen to possess or to gift.
This pair of dumbbells is out to change the very concept of fitness. The O2 Magnetic Dumbbells weighing one pound each (around 450 grams) created by a team of South Korean researchers have the power to give you the same workout as a 24 kilo barbell thanks to the embedded electromagnets. The strength of these electromagnets can be set by adjusting the level of electric power according to your workout intensity. The user can conveniently choose the right training weight ranging from three kilos to 24 kilos by the click of a button. So, all you have to do is to simply switch the polarity of electromagnets and get set to pump iron and flex your muscles.
Few things have captured the imagination of men more than motorbikes. But when they were first invented in 1867 by American automobile engineer Sylvester Howard Roper they were not the mean machines that we see on the roads today but simply a bicycle with a motor fitted to it. Now Italian manufacturer Lampociclo has revived that style of yore by combining the latest technology with retro features of a bygone era. Simply called Lampociclo, this bike is a real piece of art and its classic look does not reveal the 250W battery which is activated by simple pedal movement making it an eminently eco-friendly bike in the true sense of the word.
For the young generation, picnics may be such a yesterday thing. But for those born in the 1960s and 1970s, they still bring back a wave of nostalgia. A beautiful park, a sheet spread on grass and a hamper full of finger-licking food are all associated with the romance of picnic. Now you can bring back that retro fun with the English Picnic Hamper by British heritage house Optima that contains four Royal Stewart gold-edged fine bone china plates, stainless steel cutlery, Michelangelo glasses in English willow tray, four bone china mugs, salt and pepper mills, bottle opener, napkins, table cloth and trunk-lidded hamper woven in English willow. All you have to do is to take this hamper to a park and revel in a picnic with butterflies flitting around you.