By Sujata Assomull

These bags have been spotted on the arms of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Olivia Palermo and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. They have an artisanal look, a lot of colour and attention to detail down to beautiful fabric lining. So you’re probably thinking they are made in Italy, Spain or perhaps even Portugal. Aranaz bags are actually made in the Philippines, and are slowly becoming a cult. It’s come to be known as a sustainable fashion accessories label. The story started in 2000 when Becky Aranaz with her daughters Rosanna and Amina in tow, decided it was time to start a brand under the family name. Continue reading Sustainable, stylish and funky. That could make you a diva too →

By Bikram Vohra

In 2016, CNN carried a major expose on baggage theft at airports. Although airlines get blamed for every such incident with the passenger taking them on, in reality, a carrier would not even be aware of such a theft since the security comes under the airport management. When you take a hopping flight and your baggage has to go into transfer and transit, the odds on it being pilfered increase exponentially. Continue reading Mind your luggage. There are thieves on the prowl →

By Anamika Chatterjee

They have been accused of spelling doom on the diamond industry due to their declining interest in jewels. They have been held responsible for the diminishing popularity of bar soap. And oh, if you find lesser trees around you, rest assured, they have killed them because they prefer physical copies of books to the e-version. Continue reading Are millennial women better or worse off than their mums? →

Sujata Assomull

When you think of the editor-in-chief of Vogue, one of the fashion industry’s most respected magazines, the first person who comes to mind is Miranda Priestly, the character played by Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Continue reading The editor wears Prada. Or not →

Sushmita Bose

A friend of mine — obviously also a ‘Facebook friend’ — had his birthday recently. I find it a bit odd to wish folks on their walls, so I WhatsApped him ‘Happy birthday, have a blast’ (added emojis of a slice of cake, a bouquet of flowers and a saxophone) early in the morning; but the ‘stalker’ in me logged on to Facebook to see how many ‘friends’ had wished him (yes, I have a pathetic life). I noticed he had deactivated his Facebook account. Temporarily (temporarily, because he was back in action a few days later). Continue reading Heard the latest? Turns out your friends don’t like you →

By Bikram Vohra

Ever so often we hear of some person who has been arrested for touching someone’s child. His defence is always that it was an innocent gesture of affection or that he was struck by a bout of homesickness and possibly that he was thinking of his own children back home and meant no harm. Continue reading Are parents paranoid in not letting strangers touch kids? →

By Robert Klose

I grew up in an age of delayed gratification, when I had to wait for almost everything. The mail came once a day, and I recall the thrill of anticipation when expecting my issue of Mad magazine or some doodad or gag item I had ordered from the Johnson Smith novelty company. Continue reading The old days were slower and there was a charm to waiting →