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View collectionDaniella // Ajaie Alaie
Ajaie Alaie originally spelled //Ajai Alai// is a sanskrit mantra for being in your power– It means invincible and indestructible.
Ajaie Alaie is all about mindfulness and reminding women to be mindful with their daily thoughts and actions. Each garment has an amulet on the inside of the garment at a specific energy point (a chakra), represented by a design detail, a knot, twist, dart etc...
What does a day in the life look like for you Daniella?
It varies and that's my most favorite. I'm not good with routines so I change it up a lot. Sometimes I wake up really early, go to yoga, come into the studio at 8am and have some me time– read things, sketch, think, look at fabrics etc.. before the world begins to work at around 10am and I get down to business. Sometimes I sleep in, have my morning coffee on the couch while scrolling through my phone, then walk over to my studio and get straight to work. I love spending time in my studio so I'm there all day working on various things- tech packs, production, fittings, fulfilling online orders, taking pictures and such and when night starts to come and everyone has left I feel I can relax again so I pour a glass of rose, or red and begin some more me time where I do all the above me time activities. Not always but once in a while. Sometimes I get this really good impulse and I go to the gym religiously at 6pm for weeks in a row. When I get home, I like to cook with my husband and unwind together while watching animal documentaries, or Spanish shows on Netflix (my guilty pleasure!). When I feel stuck and my creative juices are not flowing I read only. I skip the tv and submerge in a good book. It's magical how it gets me back on track.
Ajaie Alaie is a Sanskrit phrase. How did you know this was the perfect name for your brand and what is your connection to India?
The original word is Ajai Alai and it means the power within, invincible. When I started the brand I knew what I wanted to do, but I was having a hard time finding a name fitting for the philosophy but also that sounded good and attractive. One day while working on some patterns I was listening to this mantra and when I hit pause I saw the name of the mantra. It sounded beautiful to me so I googled the meaning and I couldn't believe how perfect it was. It just seemed so fitting with what I wanted to do. Basically, every time you would say Ajaie Alaie you would be telling yourself you are invincible because of your power within. I loved it. My connection to India is through my husband. He is from there and I go there twice a year. I feel one-third Indian by now and when I go to India I feel like home.
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View collectionJoya Mukerjee Logue // Haati Chai Muse
Joya Logue is an artist currently based in the United States. Her watercolor paintings share a warm story of her own heritage, home and cultural identity. We catch up with Joya about her memories of India, the meaning of heirlooms and her own sentimental lure towards simplicity.
I’m Joya :)
I’m an artist, predominantly in a watercolor practice, drawing inspiration from my mixed culture heritage. My dad is from India, my mom American, and I was born and raised in the U.S. Yearly travels to our ancestral home in India, named Rajo Villa, created a visual and memorable connection to my heritage. I am drawn to an earthen palette and a soft, minimal, fluid stroke. I love the beauty in the everyday. My paintings are a reflection of this, and often depict people and places in a simple form that elicit emotion and nostalgia.
I’m also a mother to three boys, ages 17, 15 and 9.
A few years ago, in the beginning of my art journey, I decided to let go of my expectations to paint or create art universally accepted in America. The idea of sharing online had exploded and it felt very natural to go along with the trends and aesthetics. Yet my unique perspective as a Bengali-American woman was left unfulfilled.
My memories of visits to India played like a repeat track of a favorite song; images splashed in front of me, and the taste or smell of something would stop me in my tracks and transport me to a walk in the bazar or to familiar street sounds.
I surrendered to my strong feelings to paint what was closest to my innermost soul, regardless of the narrowing scope of my subject. I needed to express my mixed heritage, explore my roots, and give a voice to the longing I had for this connection. India is a part of me that has always felt both intimate and far away, and I constantly grasp for its intimacy.
After my grandmother passed away, I was given some of her heirloom handwoven saris, featuring zari embroidery, and a shawl. She wore them beautifully her entire life and in the early years she was a fashion icon, draped in the most elegant Varanasi brocade or silk organza saris. Later, as a mature woman, she wore a classic Bengali cotton sari and white blouse most days, with a shawl wrapped around her. It is the simple cotton sari and wool shawl that are most meaningful to me. They mirror her spirit- classic and beautiful with a quiet strength.
I draw inspiration from this part of my material heritage and have begun to wear a sari here in America, even casually, my favorite being a simple silk or mulmul cotton sari. I experiment with drape and as a result feel more comfortable continuing this tradition. To me, the sari has become more than a physical symbol of beauty. It is a connection to my history, to strong women, to the hands who craft it and to those who share the same affection.
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Kanya Iwana // Her Picks
Kanya Iwana
With having production experience, I am a better music artist. I take notes and apply through my mistakes and successes when dealing with different projects and clients. One example is, when I am the Talent at a shoot, I know to respect every single person working on set, who have been there probably 2 hours before me and worked weeks before the first shot is even pulled, because I have been those people and have run those sets. I’ve been the person last on the call sheet -- the BTS girl whose name people don’t know. The biggest lesson is to respect people and their time. Another example is to really know who you are as a person and as an artist, because if you don’t, the higher ups will try to control you and change you, and that to me is my biggest fear of all.
A little bit about the project that’s involved with this story: I wanted to do covers that are like really good bites of mini cupcakes, or dimsum, if you’re like me. A re-creation that’s bite-size, digestible, but delicious. I want to always pack it with my vision, brilliantly executed by my team of long-time collaborators. I hope to keep doing this cover series for a long time.
@kanya.msc
Hair by Andrea Samuels
Kristen Giorgi // Her Picks
How does jewelry impact you — emotionally, personally or professionally?When I wear jewelry it makes me feel feminine and sexy. It's that little gleam that adds to your own sparkle and people notice it.
Michelle Ranavat // Her Picks
I wake up to my 2 boys coming into my room for hugs and snuggles. I’m not a morning person—so I usually depend on them to get me going! Once we’re up- it’s a mad dash to get them to school. I’m usually helping the nanny get things in order before I start my day and head to a Platefit class around 8:30am. After my workout – with coffee or tea in hand-- I’m back in my office and super energized to start my day. If I’m visiting retail partners or doing trainings I’m usually away from my computer and spending the day on the ground. I love these days- they are exhausting but I get such a thrill from seeing people experience my treatments in real-time. If I’m having an office day- I usually have a few calls scheduled, but I spend most of my day working on making new treatments. It takes such a long time- that I’m working 2019 releases already! I always have 5-6 projects going at a time- so there is always a lot to do there.
I’ve always had a love for taking care of my skin and felt an urgency knowing that it’s the one skin we have for our whole lives. But if I dig in really deep – it was watching my dad come to the US in the 70s with no help and starting his business in the basement of our home. When you see someone slowly rise from the ground up you become a believer in the American dream. My dad gave me this confidence that I could do it, because he did—and that is what gave me the strength to start the company.
My favorite ritual is masking. I have found masking to be an incredibly nourishing process for the skin. When I first learned about Ayurveda I saw how important “face packs” or masking was to their rituals. As I started experimenting with my own formulas, I started to notice HUGE differences in my skin over time. I honestly felt like at 35, I finally had the best skin of my life. I was more confident, I loved going without makeup (which is key when you have 2 young kids) and I really felt more energized.
At that point, I really knew these treatments worked, but I also realized that consistency was key. Just like the gym, you can’t go once in a blue moon and think you will have a 6-pack. You have to put in the work and skincare is no exception. This is why I find ritual to be a major component, we need to make self-care a habit and necessity.
I would focus on creating the most distinct brand possible. I think most people get to the phase where they have a good product, but I think more time and energy needs to be spent on the emotional part of connecting with the customer. Your customer should feel something. They should look at your packaging and your brand and want to be a part of your story. Great imagery, authentic storytelling and a unique point of view really play into all of this. Take a ton of time and invest in all of the little details- because that is what sets you apart.
Meeting Stella and Ali was meant to be because I had heard about them 3 different times in a few months! First it was through both of us being featured in an article by our retail partners, then it was through a great interview done by Live Tinted, and lastly, Stella and I are both moms and a part of Fashion Mamas. Once we actually met, and I felt an immediate closeness to both Stella and Ali but also the brand. Not cutting corners, craftsmanship, making art, history, tradition, timelessness—all of these ideas tie both of us together. Then when Stella told me how much she loves tea (I should have known by the name)- I was convinced we shared a similar vision.
Honestly I can see myself wearing everything from the collection-it's all so curated and well thought through-with a story for every piece. A few of my picks are the Anna Coin Pendant (the story!!), Syed Pearl Signet Ring and the Devi Ring. I love how Stella does her stacks and maybe one of these days I can pull one off ;)
Natalie Harris // Her Picks
What does a day in the life look like for you Natalie?
What inspires you and your brand?
Who does all your creative direction and photography? You, we assume? Tell me how you get the perfect IG image?
You have a lot of interaction and feedback from the community you've built around your brand. How does this affect your designs?
How important do you feel it is to have a visually cohesive brand?
What are your favorite pieces in our latest collection for Haati Chai?
Any advice for women who are starting their own business?
What is next for the brand?
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Haati Chai Muse Sabrina Claudio wearing Haati Chai in her latest project "Stand Still"
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View collectionZarna Surti // Her Picks
Zarna Surti of Tonal Journal
I'm Zarna Surti, the founder and editor in chief of Tonal Journal—an independent print publication celebrating women of color.
I love morning rituals, and starting my day the same way gives me a sense of balance. Things can get crazy after that, but anchoring my day is so special to me. I start my day with a cup of lemon water and a hot cup of black coffee, then I take 30 minutes to listen to music and read. (A few years ago, I realized I needed to make time for reading, I was getting so busy, and I needed to make time for what I loved.) Then, I like to get in a 30-45 minute workout, get ready, and start my day. I also run Tonal Studios, a Los Angeles-based creative studio, so my day can be client meetings, work sessions, or working with my team, or it can be photoshoots, coffee meetings, or writing for Tonal Journal. Every day is so different, and I truly love that.
I came up with the idea for Tonal Journal on an airplane! I had a cocktail napkin and I was scribbling the world “tone” on it, and eventually wrote down the word “tonal.” When I looked up the definition, it said “relating to the tone of music, color, or writing.” Those were my three favorite things, so it felt pretty serendipitous.
From there, I spoke to Tonal Journal’s art director Esther Choi about it and she was in. We spent two years creating our 288-page magazine/art book hybrid and we’re so incredibly proud of it. It’s here to celebrate women of color and each volume will be based off of a different tone, the first being nude. It’s no nudity, rather, it’s an exploration in skin tones and cultures.
Bringing this idea to life was truly the hardest and most challenging thing I've ever done, but I wanted to get it out into the world. My biggest piece of advice is to pick a project and see it through to the finish—we all start so many projects, but the ones you finish are so incredibly rewarding.
Also seeing people respond to it and getting featured in publications I've admired for decades (Business of Fashion, i-D, Coveteur, Refinery29, Essence, etc). It's just wild to me that our little project is being talked about on a global scale—I just hope it translates to women of color feeling more celebrated, feeling more included, and feeling all the love.
Work harder (and smarter) than every one else. While you're working your 9-5, don't be afraid to freelance or create your own project you want to work on. This advice is mainly for entrepreneurs, because that's my experience, but start a project and truly see it through. It's such a gratifying process and an incredible learning experience.
Also, reach out to people! You'd be surprised at how many women want to help other women.
Oh, and tinted lip balm with SPF!
Lip Balm w/ SPF — Burts Bees
@NOOR — We just recorded a podcast together recently and I was blown away by her intelligence, confidence, work, and beauty. She's a true inspiration.
@BABBUTHEPAINTER — I love that she shows the world what it's like to be a modern Indian woman. She mixes old school and new school, and creates this haven for first-generation Indian-Americans that I find so incredibly inspiring.
@VIRGOMOOD — It's my favorite place for fashion inspiration—they find the best throwback imagery and LEWKS.
My mother and grandmothers—the Indian culture tends to have a very patriarchal structure, and I was lucky to grow up around such inspiring and strong women. My paternal and maternal grandmothers were just such bosses—when I was young, it felt like they both ruled the world, and did it adorned in beautiful saris and gold jewelry every single day. My mother is also so incredibly strong and is the most resilient and brave women I've ever met. She inspires me every single day.