Tag: culture

  • Silk Threads Reveals Exclusive Design at Trunk Show/Sip & Style Event

    Silk Threads Reveals Exclusive Design at Trunk Show/Sip & Style Event

    At the end of September, Silk Threads was delighted to host an exclusive Trunk Show Exhibition and Sip & Style for bloggers, clients, and friends. For the first half of the event, Silk Threads clients gathered at the studio, mingled, and were treated with personal stylings in various Silk Threads designs.

    Champagne, hor d’oeuvres, fashion, and glam all made up the essence of the occasion. Following the trunk show was a time for more mingling, especially with bloggers in the community, who were given the chance to browse the studio for their favorite pieces. Fashion designer Ruby Bhandari was proud and impressed with the curiosity exhibited by visitors, who not only seemed intrigued by the aesthetics of the designs, but also the culture by which they were inspired.

    Silk Threads Partners with Aanushkil Designer Jewelry

    Silk Threads partnered with Aanushkil Designer Jewelry for the show, with an entire room of tables iced completely in unique and mesmerizing jewels. Visitors awed at the earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, which were all made up of semi precious stones set in sterling silver, as well as other designer jewelry sourced from all over India and the Far East.

    Caught by the brightness of the genuine jewelry designs, Dallas blogger and jewelry business owner Kathleen DeNooyer of DeNooyer Designs brought up an interesting point regarding Indian and Far Eastern designs being worn here in the US: Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation.

    “As an artist and human being, to find inspiration to create beauty, you must open your mind and pursue things that are different,” DeNooyer said. “In that way, an artist must absorb the world outside their sphere and implement it into who they are and what they create. I think that’s different than appropriation, which is just yanking something from a culture/thing that you do not understand, nor have experienced.”

    Aanushkil Designer Jewelry Owner Disha (Sapna) Thadani agreed with DeNooyer, saying that she’s inspired, rather than offended.

    “When I see others out there wearing jewelry and clothing like what you see here by me and Ruby, it inspires me,” Thadani said. “It makes me proud and makes me feel like there’s appreciation across the board. Jewelry and accessorizing is an art form. I’ve always felt that people who wear a simple black shirt with blue jeans and put on a piece that is cross-cultural, are crossing borders and showing that there is beauty in every corner of the earth. It’s how you use the pieces to show how you appreciate it. It brings out your individuality, and it’s appreciation and flattery of the highest form.”

    Emerald Green With Envy: Ruby’s Exclusive Sneak Peek

    To wrap up the day’s festivities, guests and bloggers all sat down for a quick runway reveal and sneak peek at one of Ruby’s new designs. The gown, which is a strong and bold emerald green, is made of draped chiffon with custom beading and lace embroidered at the neckline. The design will also hit the runway October 14th for the 8th Annual Silk Threads Charity Fashion Event: Bollywood to Hollywood.

    To see more designs by fashion icon and designer Ruby Bhandari, join us at the upcoming Bollywood to Hollywood event this month.

  • “If you have a vision for an outfit, go to Ruby…”

    “If you have a vision for an outfit, go to Ruby…”

    Today’s interview is with customer Jaimie Anand, of Jaimie Anand Interiors.
    ST – What was the special occasion you were trying to find dresses for? What designs did you have in mind?
    JA – The special occasion was my younger brother’s wedding, which was in Vicksburg Mississippi.
    Design concepts I had in mind were modern chic, elegant and trendy.
    – What brought you to Silk Threads?
    I came to Ruby last year to see some of her stuff, after I had heard how great she was from friends.  I ended up buying an outfit and several saris.  One of the outifts I wore during one of the wedding events.
    When I got ready to start wedding shopping, I knew right away I wanted to go to Ruby for some of my outfits.
    – What do you like the most about Silk Threads and its staff?
    The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating to what exactly I needed.  Ruby made it a point to have the outfits be perfect to the way I wanted and went out of her way to make that happen.
    – Any tips for our readers?
    I would say if you have a vision for an outfit, go to Ruby, she will help tweak it to be unique and work with you to create a stunning look.
    I will definitely be buying from her again in the future.
    Thank you Jaimie…you looked gorgeous!
  • Ruby Bhandari featured in The Pin Show 2016 in Dallas

    Ruby Bhandari featured in The Pin Show 2016 in Dallas

    The latest Collection of Chief Designer of Silk Threads, Ruby Bhandari, was recently featured in The Pin Show 2016 at the Bomb Factory in Dallas.

    Create your Couture Dress now The Pin Show is the largest independent fashion show in Dallas, and this year’s show was even bigger and extravagant. The sold out show filled the large concert arena at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum, with likes of the cast of Real Housewives of Dallas in attendance. The fashion show was interspersed with musical performances from upcoming singers in the Dallas area.
    Even though all the collections shown were unique, Ruby’s collection stood out because of her focus on delicate hand-embroidery and bold colors for both the dresses, as well as the menswear.
    Click here to see some of the featured collections.
  • A Crazy Punjabi Wedding: #RealBride Reema

    A Crazy Punjabi Wedding: #RealBride Reema

    Bide & groom’s names: Kanwar (Preet) Singh & Harleen (Reema) Singh
    Location of the wedding: Dallas & Houston, TX
    Photographer:  Blink Photography & Film (Houston, TX)
    1. What was your vision for your wedding?
    Our motto for our wedding was “a crazy punjabi wedding”. We both come from extremely large, Punjabi, very cultural and traditional families, which meant lots of dancing, singing, and celebrating!
    Most importantly, our vision included a weekend filled with lots of emotion, lots of color, and lots of love! Fortunately, that is exactly how it played out.
    2. What was the most magical or memorable part of your day? 
    The most memorable part of our Wedding weekend was seeing each other at the Sikh Temple on Saturday morning. It was definitely amagical moment because it was the day we had been planning night and day for the past year! Lastly, it was a very beautiful thing to see both of our families becoming one!
    3. Why did you choose your wedding/reception dress from Silk Threads? 
    First off, I have known Ruby Didi since I was a little girl. I loved her style and swag! Growing up, I always bought all my Indian outfits from Silk Threads. That was definitely not going to change when I found out I was getting married.
    One quality I love about Ruby Didi is that she will NEVER let you leave Silk Threads if you are not 150% happy with your outfit. That is exactly what I needed for my wedding. I knew that I could tell her my vision and she would know exactly what I wanted. She can read my mind when it comes to outfits! Lastly, I knew Silk Threads would go above and beyond for me to make sure that I looked my absolute best!
    Thank you Reema and Preet, and Congratulations again!
  • How Bollywood influences South Asian American Weddings

    How Bollywood influences South Asian American Weddings

    Karan Johar has probably had more impact on our weddings than anyone else in recent history” – states a recent article in The Hindu.

    For those of you who haven’t heard of Karan Johar, he is a prolific Bollywood producer/director/writer and talk show host, who films show over the top wedding glamour – which in turn has shaped the nuptial ideas of a whole generation of South Asian Americans.

    A great quote in the article from a wedding planner: “In fact, I once organised a Tamil Brahmin wedding where the bride was so influenced by Bollywood movies that she wanted a Punjabi  jago  as part of the event. This is where the aunt dances with a pot of lamps on her head. We had to bring in  dholaks  and train the aunt to dance…”

    We asked Ruby Bhandari, Chief Designer at the Dallas-based fashion company Silk Threads, about what she sees trending with new brides and grooms.

    “South Asian wedding culture is ever evolving”, Ruby says. “We see new brides on a weekly basis, and most of them are second generation South Asian Americans – they may have had infrequent trips to India when they were younger, but now they rely on popular Bollywood movies to guide them from a fashion perspective. In addition, these movies are also heavy on so-called wedding customs (or Rivaaz) – which creates a co-mingling of the culture and traditions behind the wedding – leading to some interesting outcomes. We also get a lot of inter-racial weddings, where we factor in choices of both sides for their wedding trousseaus and menswear”

    In fact, Bollywood has created a whole ecosystem around South Asian American weddings – a visit to any of the South Asian American themed Bridal Shows will show a host of vendors showing beautiful wedding decor – from traditional to minimalistic modern – as well as standard, but fusion, trappings of any wedding – from wedding cards to favors to food.

    As the article concludes, “Irrespective of the kind of marriage — interracial or within communities — one thing is clear. while the path to marriage in the Indian-American context can be distinctly different from a true Indian matrimonial experience, at the end of the day the quest for a “happily ever after” remains the same…”

    Now all we need is ShahRukh Khan…

  • What are the latest Indian Bridal trends?

    What are the latest Indian Bridal trends?

    A Talk with Ruby Bhandari, Chief Designer of Silk Threads on the latest Indian Bridal Trends

    Changing fashion and trends act like a mirror for the changing cultural norms and mind sets. Today’s brides are have specific designs in mind and do not shy away from asserting their preferences. The new age bride can be a career woman, fashionista, social butterfly or reserved book lover – who needs a bridal wear or outfit that will suit her individuality and enhance her personality.

    Let us discuss with Ruby Bhandari, Chief Designer at Silk Threads, about some of the designer Indian bridal wear that will suit every modern woman and respect her unique tastes throughout wedding journey.

    How does a New Age Bride dress-up for Pre-Wedding Ceremonies?

    Ruby Bhandari Says…..

    Subtle and Chic Outfit for Haldi/Mehendi Ceremony:

    The Haldi ceremony kicks off the Indian wedding events. In this casual wedding event, a bride can wear relaxed light Indian attire in shades of yellow or orange. Comfortable and lightly embellished subtle Indian fashion suits and lehngas will be perfect for Haldi ceremony.

    Mehendi is another pre-wedding event, which is a casual fun affair. For this event, a bride can wear an outfit that will suitably get along with the Mehendi theme – but not too heavy and elaborate. Brides should choose relaxed outfits and avoid longer sleeves, practical for applying mehendi (henna), as well as the dancing which is sure to follow…

    What should be the look of a Bride for a lively Sangeet Ceremony?

    Ruby Bhandari Says…..

    Look Vibrant on Sangeet Ceremony:

    The modern Sangeet ceremony has families of both sides performing choreographed dances to the tunes of Bollywood songs. This requires the bride to look vibrant and radiant just like a Bollywood beauty. For this ceremony, brides can dress-up with traditional lehengas, designer anarkalis, salwar kameez or Indian Saree. Pleasing colors, interesting cuts, right amount of shimmer and some attractive offbeat touches to the Indian bridal outfits will enhance the look and will make the bride to stand out in the sangeet ceremony.

    What should be the Attire of a Bride for a Modern day Pre-Wedding Cocktail Party?

    Ruby Bhandari Says…..

    Indo-Western Look for Cocktail Party:

    For cocktail parties before the wedding, some brides have a dress code or a themed event. Incorporating cocktail parties into Indian wedding gives an alternative to the brides for ditching the traditional outfits to adorn a gorgeous look in Indo-Western gowns or cocktail dresses. Remember, minimalism is the key but your subtle jewelry and accessories can make you stand out.

    How can a Bride look gorgeous on her Wedding Day?

    Ruby Bhandari Says…..

    Adorn a Dazzling Look on the Wedding Day, and match it!

    Brides can shine, dazzle and make a statement on the wedding day by creating their favorite Indian bridal wear, and matching it with the groom, as well as the rest of the families. We at Silk Threads can help you create the custom look you desire – be it traditional, contemporary or a hybrid.

    Silk Threads creates beautiful flair, drapes and gorgeous hemlines that will suit every requirement of a modern Indian bride looking for a dream outfit. Give us a call today at 972-432-9599.

    Silk Threads Understands the New Generation of Fashion and Strives to Deliver the Best!

  • Whose Sari Now?

    Whose Sari Now?

    Sometimes, a catchy headline draws you into an article, and you realize that you may have missed some interesting movements, which while are not publicized widely, could create an impact in the society.

    One such article caught my attention while browsing – which brought to light the movement by some Indian women to bring back the Sari (or Saree) into an everyday wear garment for the Indian women worldwide – started interestingly enough in California!

    She’s part of a movement of Indian women who are bringing back the everyday wear of the sari through the 100 Sari Pact, which claimed Dec. 21 as World Sari Day.

    The pact required Appanna and others to wear 100 different saris throughout 2015. She did that, celebrating the wearing of her 100th sari at a Dec. 20 “sari party” at Amber Cellar & Lounge in Los Altos. She draped invitees with saris she made.

    “I love the sari,” she said. “I feel anyone can wear it – size, age, race, social standing – no bar.”

    The sari (also spelled “saree”) is a South Asian garment that dates back thousands of years. A drape of cloth ranging from 5 to 9 yards long, the sari is usually wrapped around the waist with one end draped over one of the shoulders. They come in a range of fabrics, colors and designs…”

    Fascinating! Good luck to Archana and team – and remember, Silk Threads not only can provide you beautiful saris in a variety of designs fore all events – from parties to weddings, but can also provide you video training on how to tie a sari.