Handicraft markets are tiny little ecosystems tucked into pockets of India. As you enter through the gates and follow the wrinkled cobblestone walkway to the open pavilion, scents of natural dyed fabric and freshly ground spices fill the open air. Small huts line the walkway and the senses explode with the sight of bright colors, ornate textures, and smells of powerful fragrances. A craftsman…
6 years ago with 32 notes
The ice cubes clinked in the glass of Sprite I drink as I stand in the warmly lit kitchen. People swarm in and out, snacking and mingling. It is a lovely gathering full of familiar faces. My parents’ friend approaches me and greets me with a hug. She asks me how I’m doing, remarks on how much weight I have lost, and inquires on what I am studying in college. And as soon as I respond with “fashion…
6 years ago with 0 notes
Welcome to the witching hour. The time of night where black magic prevails, where monsters & witches emerge from the shadows, and also about the time that The Witch Clique posts comes alive. We meet at a time where things are just off– the picture frame is crooked, the back seam of your dress ripped open, the hair tie snapped in half. The Gilmore Girls revival takes you back to Stars Hollow,…
6 years ago with 0 notes
October is my favorite month out of the twelve. The mornings and evenings have a crisp coolness to them, anticipating the incoming winter. By midday, the sunlight cloaks you with a warmth that is welcome because of the slight briskness of the air. It smells like the seasons are changing. Coffee tastes better laced with pumpkin, laughter is louder as we impatiently await the joy of the holidays,…
6 years ago with 0 notes
Breaking Rules, Wreaking Havoc
We instill a lot of rules in our lives. Floss at least once a day. Eat your vegetables. Arrive at work by 8 AM. These rules are justified and logical. But it seems like we also instill rules that don’t really have a point, and are almost nonsensical and thwarting of nature. More specifically, I mean rules of style. Because why would you restrict the wearage of a color after Labor Day? Why can’t…
6 years ago with 0 notes
The season of Fall seems to be a feeling in and of itself- a distinct emotion and aura that I welcome with open arms. I welcome classrooms, textbooks, and keurig cups. I welcome comfort in the laughter of my friends, the warm embrace of the ones I love, the calm that comes with familiarity. But I also welcome the exhilaration of new. The inertia of the new year leaves me feeling empowered. Year…
6 years ago with 0 notes
The threads, the beads, the needles.
There are a variety of elements an artisan needs to embroider: threads, beads, needles. It’s an incredible craft. One that transports me back to a time of kings, queens and ornate, regal palaces. The detail is fine, the work is laborious. To lace small beads individually onto finespun threads takes patience, skill, and thought. This artistry can only be done with human hands. Hands that we must…
7 years ago with 0 notes
There is poverty in India. No doubt, there is poverty. But there is also an incredible wealth. Wealths of history. Wealths of culture. Wealths of people. As the yellow and green rickshaw swerves through the fleets of cars. As the vast tomb of Mughal emperors cast shadows over the city. As the scents of street foods waft across the marketplace. There is something incredibly curious about city…
7 years ago with 0 notes
The happiest of International Women’s Day to you! I ask that while you share “Run the World” by Beyoncé and retweet #Feminism (is that still a taboo?), take a moment to fixate on the word international. This is a day to celebrate women, but also to take a hard look at the progress that needs to be made in order to HELP women who lack basic human rights. Some facts: 39,000 girls under the age of…
7 years ago with 1 note
Last month I was lucky enough to visit Roatán, Honduras. The island is blanketed with greenery, small hills, and white sand beaches. The locals are kind and simple people. It was humbling to see them living with such authenticity, without the swarm of iMessages, Likes, and other superficialities. We told our taxi-cab driver to take us to his favorite place on the island, which was a small plateau…
7 years ago with 0 notes