As the Ensemble store at Lion Gate, Colaba, turns 25, Tina Tahiliani Parikh talks fashion, style and silver linings

It’s All Coming Together

As the Ensemble store at Lion Gate, Colaba, turns 25, Tina Tahiliani Parikh talks fashion, style and silver linings

DECEMBER 12, 2012, or 12-1212, is a special date any way you look at it. And for Ensemble, India’s first multidesigner fashion boutique, it’s even more special. “It’s exactly 25 years to the day that my brother Tarun and his wife Sal [Tahiliani] opened the first store,” says Tina Tahiliani-Parikh, who now runs Ensemble.
Brunch met with Tahiliani-Parikh (who was wearing palazzo pants by Rahul Mishra, a scarf by Tarun Tahiliani and a top by Pero) at The Table restaurant in Colaba, whose Apollo Bunder Marg location has seen many changes in 25 years as well. In 1987, it was an Irani café that served up Mughlai food. Now, The Table, like Ensemble, is trés fashionable, from its black-andwhite interiors to its globalised European cuisine. Over chamomile tea, gruyère cheese puffs and a cookie platter, the talk turned to fashion, celebration and style.
So Ensemble is celebrating its 25th anniversary...
This is a huge milestone for us in more ways than one. It’s fortuitous for us to have reached this number, because fashion is such a tough business. It’s time for us to celebrate with everyone who made this possible – our designers, customers, the models, photographers, all the other people who have helped us. We’re celebrating relationships and the coming together of fantastic ideas, and the guts and vision of Tarun and Sal. That was a time when people went to a tailor and got something made for R200, or spent money on a Kanjeevaram or Benarasi sari. For Tarun and Sal to take this risk of opening a store in what was a machine-tools showroom in the dockyard area, was fantastic at that time, there were no stores in this part of town; people went to Nepean Sea Road and Breach Candy to shop. social media. But there’s nothing to replace the experience of coming into the store and building a relationship with someone who understands your body – my staff have been asked for advice on haircuts, for example. We also now have young girls coming in to buy a prom dress!
How bright is the fashion scene in India, and what is Ensemble doing to support it?
The young talent I am seeing right now is mind-boggling. I was judging a competition for young designers recently and the biggest high was seeing the amazing creativity there is in this country.

We are also doing a lot of work to support the sari – from woven saris to organic khadi, Dhaka muslin, Chanderi and Benarasi versions. Not so long ago, on a plane, I was seated next to a man who sold saris and he told me his business had been falling every year. We’re hoping to help craftspeople and weavers by showing their saris.
Is there a change in how people are accessing fashion now?
The customer is far more educated about fashion. There is a huge amount of awareness being generated through the media, cinema and
What are the fashion trends we can expect to see in 2013?
For spring, we are seeing a lot of citrus and neons. However, at Ensemble, 50 per cent of what we do is occasion wear; that is less trend-driven.
Speaking of occasion wear, will Indians ever get over their love affair with bling?
I’m already seeing a huge trend away from bling from four to five years ago. There’s a whole rediscovery of subtle ornamentation, muted zardozi and dull-gold work. Even when bling is used, it’s being used in a very tasteful way. But I don’t think this is a permanent move – nothing is permanent in fashion.

THE CELEBRATIONS

Ensemble is kicking off its celebrations with a party at the store on the 12th. If you haven’t scored an invite yet, let us tell you that it features a special shoot with all the designers that the store has launched (with the exception of three people). Also, all the designers associated with Ensemble are designing special collections to mark the event.