Whether I'm writing from the lap of the Himalayas in Sikkim or facing paddy fields in Bali, one truth is clear: we are nourished by nature's biodiversity. It's easy, then, to make the connection: we need the same diversity in our human relationships. In the past, our mothers, grandmothers and extended families constituted the only proverbial village that raised a child. Today, we live long distances away from our families and rely heavily on technology to stay in touch. This is not enough.
I often ask myself, who lives in my modern village? The nature of my village has changed, but I had to walk a long, circuitous road in the fashion industry to come to this realisation.
For thirteen years, I jetted around the world, interviewing brilliant designers and watching fascinating shows. At that time, fashion was quite insular and the friendships were performative rather than wholesome. I began to see a disconnect between my inward journey and my outward affectations. There were confusing hierarchies I had to navigate to 'belong', and I remember the anxiety of constantly toggling between having power and losing power-not the kind of momentum that can fulfil anyone.
This subtle fearfulness became a constant in my life. And I saw it pervading most women around me whether they talked about it or not.
In reality, the invisible boundaries marked for women are vast, bewildering and unfair. We sanctimoniously tell ourselves not to talk too much about beauty and age because it's superficial, yet we do it every day when we face the mirror. This is absurd, I thought. My job was behind the scenes, so why was I subjecting myself to this intense scrutiny? Therapists call it 'self-bullying': irrational beliefs that one is not smart enough, beautiful enough or good enough. This self-sabotaging then transfers to the judgement of others, creating layers of despair, further breaking the sacred bond between our inner and outer worlds.
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2024-utgaven av VOGUE India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Breathe In, Breathe Out
A powerful tool to help you master your nervous system or another biohacking buzzword? SIMONE DHONDY explores the inhalations and exhalations of breathwork
Red Pill, Blue Pill
India's nutraceutical industry is booming thanks to advanced technology, distrust of the medical system and rising vanity. With multivitamins becoming purer and more effective, NIDHI GUPTA finds out if supplements have become the new serum
Sign of the times
No longer do you need to have an answer to, \"What is the significance of this?\" when people point to your new tattoo. ARMAN KHAN discovers that everything is on the table when you get inked temporarily
Return to form
Watching the world's most elite athletes deliver the best performances of their careers rekindled SONAKSHI SHARMA's own love for sports
Dimple, All Day
YOU MAY HAVE WATCHED HER ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR OVER FIVE DECADES, BUT DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ASSUMING THAT YOU KNOW DIMPLE KAPADIA.
MUSIC, TAKE CONTROL
As someone who had always sought safety in numbers, ALIZA FATMA often wondered what her own company would feel like. The answer arrived unexpectedly when she attended her first-ever music festival, one of the largest in the world, all alone
Let it grow
When we think of hardworking farmers toiling in India's scorching heat, we often think of men, the sweat on their brow, the sinews in their arms. JYOTI KUMARI speaks to four women who are championing the invisible female labour that keeps these fields running
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
When armless archer Sheetal Devi set her sights on the Paralympic Games this year, she knew she had a tough journey ahead of her. Luckily, her mother was with her every step of the way.
Beauty and the feast
The appeal of Indian weddings has always been in a sprawling spread. For additional bragging rights, Aditi Dugar recommends going beyond designer tablecloths and monogrammed napkins.
Sweet serendipity
From a scavenger hunt-inspired proposal to a Moroccan-themed baraat, Malvika Raj and Armaan Rai's love story prioritised playfulness throughout their blended celebrations.
