Act Two

Five years ago, Delhi designer Anshu Arora was creating a sensation with her quirky, lovable designs and a unique aesthetic...

Designer Anshu Arora makes a comeback with the Delhi Fashion Week

Five years ago, Delhi designer Anshu Arora was creating a sensation with her quirky, lovable designs and a unique aesthetic. But then Arora moved down South to Bangalore to marry fellow designer Jason Cheriyan, and disappeared from the fashion circuit. After missing for half a decade, an eternity in the fashion world, Arora is back with her label, Small Shop, and she held her first show at the Delhi Fashion Week . 8220;It8217;s been so long,8221; smiles Arora sheepishly. 8220;I must admit I was nervous.8221;

It turns out she need not have worried. Their spring-summer collection, a non-fussy range of casual ensembles in cheery neon shades like orange and lime green, were low on embellishments and high on interesting drapes. The clothes, born out of a series of sketches done by Cheriyan, emphasised on living the eco-friendly way. 8220;Jason had done these sketches which spoke of alternative forms of energy. Much of it was fantastical 8212; things like chlorophyll energy and pumpkin dwellings done for our daughter, but later it developed into a lovely storyboard,8221; says Arora.

The reaction, says Arora, has allayed her concerns. 8220;We have quite a few offers. Even our kids line was appreciated by buyers from Saudi Arabia. Honestly, it made coming back to the city after so long, so special,8221; says Arora, with a nod.

Of course, Arora and Cheriyan have made their presence felt in Bangalore. They have their own store in the city and retail out of Evoluzione in Chennai and Aza and Ogaan in Delhi. They have got into home furnishings, and after the birth of their daughter Tara, even branched into kids wear. 8220;We want to look beyond India now, at markets overseas, so we thought showing at a fashion week would be a good option,8221; she says, having sold out of Selfridges and Saks Fifth Avenue earlier in her career.

Jason and Anshu, as the two are now known, are wisely keeping the economic meltdown in mind. Arora says they ensure that the consumer gets his money8217;s worth. 8220;As a designer I need to go in for multiple products, rather than stick to ensembles alone,8221; she explains. Accordingly, there are a gamut of other products 8212; kitschy shoes, interesting ear-muffs, headphones and attractive jewellery that now form part of her stable. 8220;In times such as these buying should be an experience. That8217;s what our focus is on now,8221; she says.

Paromita Chakrabarti

Paromita Chakrabarti is Senior Associate Editor at the The Indian Express. She is a key member of the National Editorial and Opinion desk and writes on books and literature, gender discourse, workplace policies and contemporary socio-cultural trends. Professional Profile With a career spanning over 20 years, her work is characterized by a "deep culture" approach—examining how literature, gender, and social policy intersect with contemporary life. Specialization: Books and publishing, gender discourse (specifically workplace dynamics), and modern socio-cultural trends. Editorial Role: She curates the literary coverage for the paper, overseeing reviews, author profiles, and long-form features on global literary awards. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent writing highlights a blend of literary expertise and sharp social commentary: 1. Literary Coverage & Nobel/Booker Awards "2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Hungarian master of apocalypse" (Oct 10, 2025): An in-depth analysis of László Krasznahorkai’s win, exploring his themes of despair and grace. "Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025" (Nov 10, 2025): A comprehensive guide to the history and top contenders of the year. "Katie Kitamura's Audition turns life into a stage" (Nov 8, 2025): A review of the novel’s exploration of self-recognition and performance. 2. Gender & Workplace Policy "Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy: The problem isn’t periods. It’s that workplaces are built for men" (Oct 13, 2025): A viral opinion piece arguing that modern workplace patterns are calibrated to male biology, making women's rights feel like "concessions." "Best of Both Sides: For women’s cricket, it’s 1978, not 1983" (Nov 7, 2025): A piece on how the yardstick of men's cricket cannot accurately measure the revolution in the women's game. 3. Social Trends & Childhood Crisis "The kids are not alright: An unprecedented crisis is brewing in schools and homes" (Nov 23, 2025): Writing as the Opinions Editor, she analyzed how rising competition and digital overload are overwhelming children. 4. Author Interviews & Profiles "Fame is another kind of loneliness: Kiran Desai on her Booker-shortlisted novel" (Sept 23, 2025): An interview regarding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. "Once you’ve had a rocky and unsafe childhood, you can’t trust safety: Arundhati Roy" (Aug 30, 2025): A profile on Roy’s recent reflections on personal and political violence. Signature Beats Gender Lens: She frequently critiques the "borrowed terms" on which women navigate pregnancy, menstruation, and caregiving in the corporate world. Book Reviews: Her reviews often draw parallels between literature and other media, such as comparing Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune to the series Only Murders in the Building (Oct 25, 2025). ... Read More