Saffron & Pearls

No matter how busy my day, or how much I have on my plate, the one thing I never compromise on is paying attention to my outfit. I love textiles, traditional Indian craftsmanship and jewellery – I always have, even as a young girl, and over the years, it has truly become a passion of mine. Which is why I love visiting the headquarters of Suraiya Apa’s weaving unit, which she runs out of our family farmhouse in Hyderabad, with help from Dominic, my brother-in-law.

Weavers, trained by her, spin truly magnificent bolts of Persian brocades such as mashru, himroo, jamavar and paithani, reviving ancient crafts. She also sources kalamkari, ikat and linen fabrics as well as the most beautiful and unique sarees. My weakness, I must confess, are these sarees and over the decades, I have managed to build a collection of ikats, especially in cotton and silk, that I truly treasure, and that win me countless compliments every time I wear them. Visiting the farm and spending time with Suraiya Apa is a very important part of my frequent trips home to Hyderabad. As a family, we are very grateful for the opportunity to revive these traditional crafts and provide employment to underprivileged women; there is also a school on the premises, so the children of the employees are catered to as well.

Perhaps in a different life I might have studied fashion but even without formal training, I did run a successful boutique for many years, creating Indian wear that was designed by me and embellished by very skilled craftsmen. My visits to the farm and my own collection of these priceless weaves help me maintain a deep connection with fashion, craftsmanship and textiles – which is why sharing this part of my life has been an important story in the book.