V for Vintage

From jewellery and sunglasses to bags and furniture, India is waking up to the charm of the old world.

At a recent bash, Maithili Ahluwalia — better known as the creative and entrepreneurial force behind Mumbai's fashion and design store Bungalow 8 — stood out in the star-studded gathering. While every other guest flaunted their favourite luxury labels, Ahluwalia made heads turn in a Victorian sequinned dress. "It is a '40s vintage dress that I picked up from a shop in New York. I teamed it with another vintage element — a Paco Rabanne bag from the '60s. I rounded off the look with a self-made taffeta turban and Chloe pumps," she recalls, adding that her look fetched her compliments and eager queries.

Given that Bungalow 8 is housed across three floors in the 19th century Grants Building in Colaba, Ahluwalia's affair with all things vintage is perhaps not so surprising. She has just introduced a line of American vintage costume jewellery — dating from the '40s to the '80s and sourced by NY-based Anita Trehan, at the store. Ahluwalia is part of a growing set of fashionistas who have fallen under the spell of vintage. Other known names that profess their love for it are designer Arjun Khanna and and stylist-turned-designer Pernia Qureshi. Arjun recently showcased a range of vintage and retro collectibles (ties, sunglasses, barber's chairs, typewriters, bicycles and toys, among other things) at his store. During Lakme Fashion Week, Qureshi had models carry her mother's vintage bags on the runway.

Mumbai-based entrepreneurs Mehek Agarwal and Karran Khanna are also cashing in on this trend. While Agarwal's label Viange is all about vintage jewellery (branded and otherwise), Karran sells items such as Ronson lighters, Dior sunglasses, Polaroid and Compur cameras and Underwood typewriters through his Facebook page Vintage Boutique.

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