Dear Readers,
As winter begins to soften and the sun turns northward, much of India comes alive in celebration. Across regions, harvest festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Uttarayan, and Pongal mark this seasonal transition with song, fire, colour, and food. Though each is rooted in distinct cultural traditions, they are united by a shared spirit of gratitude—for the land, the harvest, and the natural cycles that sustain life. In our Feature Story, we explore the significance of these festivals, how they are celebrated across the country, and the one element that binds them all: food.
On our cover is Rajyalakshmi Gubba, the designer whose eponymous label stands as a quiet yet powerful carrier of tradition and culture. As her brand completes ten years, she reflects not with grandeur, but with gratitude—for the people who believed in her, for the craft that shaped her, and for the faith that guided her through moments of uncertainty, in Cover Story.
In People in Focus, we feature Bindu Reddy, whose label Zvezda reflects a thoughtful, grounded approach to fashion. Trained as a stylist and informed by real-life observations of how women move and live, her designs champion substance over spectacle—silhouettes that are strong, elegant, and enduring in a world driven by speed and trends.
Our Grand Getaways section takes you along with designer Varun Chakkilam, who returns from Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels with a quieter, more reflective creative shift—one shaped by texture, movement, and the subtle rhythms of everyday life.
We also have conversations with fashion photographer Adrin Sequeira and bridal and fashion makeup artist Gulzar Wallani, whose work is defined by intuition, refinement, and timeless elegance.
All these stories reflect what we value deeply—heritage, craftsmanship, intention, and the beauty of slowing down. We hope this edition invites you to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the cycles that connect us all.
If you have any suggestions, comments or queries, please e-mail me at publisher@you-and-i.com