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Tina Tandon’s Indo-Fusion Inspired Fashion Label Posh Pari Couture
NY based fashion designer – Tina Tandon – who got break in the NY fashion industry by working under mega high-fashion brands like Escada and Christian Lacroix (under LVMH), comes from some serious pedigree, credentials, and experience in the fashion world. An honors graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, a Presidential Scholar, and most recently a Roshni Honoree, – having being published in their coffee-table book highlighting The Who’s Who of the South Asian community in the United States amongst personalities such as Deepak Chopra, Mira Nair, Priyanka Chopra, Padma Lakshmi and more, Tina Tandon has established herself as one of the leading South Asian designers in the US. She was also one of the first female Indian -American designers selling mainstream in the US at top designer stores, under her own namesake label – T.TANDON (@TTandonNY), and one of the first ones to launch an Indian-fusion fashion line out of United States in 2006 – POSH PARI COUTURE (@PoshPariCouture).
Launched in 2006, for the first time, her fashion label – Posh Pari Couture, took the glamour of Bollywood and blended it with the attitude and practicality of NYC. Posh Pari Couture creates clothes that are unique, elegant, and have a western sophistication with a NY edge. It catered to the new generation of South Asians who wanted to redefine the traditional desi look, and who sought to have a touch of modernization and a reflection of their era, times and trends in their desi ensembles, while still keeping some cultural elements intact. Posh Pari designs play with unique non-traditional, beautiful, innovative western fabrications and silhouettes to give its clientele a modern and current look that transcends all boundaries, and translates easily into the western lifestyle of the global desis. The clothes are versatile, practical and functional. Most of the designs can be worn separately, and can easily intermix with the western wardrobe of the client, no matter where they are in the world.
Her feminine-with-an-edge contemporary mainstream American fashion label for the modern empowered women T.Tandon is an eco and socially conscious fashion line, focused on utilizing natural fabrics and eco-friendly production processes (I.e. Vegetable Dyed Leathers). She also supports underprivileged women and children with her business profits and processes. Her clothes are mostly produced in women-owned factories, empowering other women in return. A percentage of her profits go to support NGOs helping women and children from the slums.
Let’s find out more about the designer in an interview.
Tell us about your brand T.TANDON & POSH PARI COUTURE.
Posh Pari Couture was my baby, first came up with the concept when I was actually attending college at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC back in 2002! At that time, the Indian stores were selling outdated and very old merchandise that didn’t correlate with my or my generation’s fashion taste!
Launched in 2006 in NYC, for the first time, Posh Pari Couture, took the glamour of Bollywood and blended it with the attitude and practicality of NYC. Posh Pari Couture created clothes that were unique, elegant, and had a western sophistication with a NY edge. It catered to the new generation of South Asians who wanted to redefine the traditional desi look, and who sought to have a touch of modernization and a reflection of their era, times and trends in their desi ensembles, while still keeping some cultural elements intact. Posh Pari designs play with unique non-traditional, beautiful, innovative western fabrications and silhouettes to give its clientele a modern and current look that transcends all boundaries, and translates easily into the western lifestyle of the global desis. The clothes are versatile, practical and functional. Most of the designs can be worn separately, and can easily intermix with the western wardrobe of the client, no matter where they are in the world.
I am proud to say that it has become a fashion label that has inspired and launched many other indo-fusion fashion labels! Many of my models went on to later launch other fusion fashion labels, and this category has truly grown now! Now, we have choices at our disposal when it comes to truly fusion Desi-fashion ensembles by Indian-Americans.
Due to demand from non-Desi crowd, I later created my second label – T.TANDON for the mainstream American market. The feminine-with-an-edge contemporary mainstream American fashion label for the modern empowered women – T.TANDON is an eco and socially conscious fashion line focused on utilizing natural fabrics and eco-friendly production processes (I.e. Vegetable Dyed Leathers). This collection has been selling to the top- tiers Designer fashion boutiques in top locations like Madison Ave in NYC to Beverly Hills in LA to Michigan Ave in Chicago, and hangs with brands like Nicole Miller, Donna Karan, Tory Burch, Rebecca Minkoff, and other high-end fashion brands. I have been fortunate enough to have many Hollywood and Bollywood beauties love and support my collections as well over the years! From Padma Lakshmi, Brooke Shields, Laura Gomez (Orange is the New Black) and Katrina Bowden to Taapsee Pannu, PV Sindhu, Tanushree Dutta, Pooja Kumar, Pooja Batra, Purva Bedi, and Janina Gavankar among many others.
What is your favorite part of being a fashion designer?
I am a creative person, so, being able to design and create something, and than see it come to reality, is a very satisfying process for me! And eventually, when I see the finished product on a client and they look and feel great in it and get compliments, it’s an absolute joy and reward for all the hard work that goes into it!
Who is your style icon?
For me it would be Audrey Hepburn, and from current times- Blake Lively, and Sonam Kapoor- always inspiring with their fashion choices! They really have fun with fashion, and really pay close attention to details, which is a delight to see.
Which celebrity according to you seems most demanding when it comes to style?
I would think the above ladies I have mentioned, I can imagine being demanding as they really know their fashion! Which is not a bad thing! They seem very particular and detailed, which is why they are so good at it!
If you were not a fashion designer?
I would be a travel show host! Travel is my other passion! So much to see, experience and learn from this beautiful, vast world and the many cultures around the globe!
How would you describe satisfaction in work and the product delivered?
For me, I get satisfaction in seeing the finished product of my imagination on a client, seeing them smile, be happy and feel great in my creation! And later, I love to hear when they get compliments and praise that further makes them feel great! That brings me satisfaction in my work that I have delivered a great product!
I also get satisfaction in my work by giving back! I also support underprivileged women and children with my business profits and processes. My clothes are mostly produced in women-owned factories, empowering other women in return gives me great satisfaction. A percentage of the profits go to support NGOs helping women and children from the slums in India. The greatest joy is giving joy!
What percentage do you divide these in the family, work, socialization out of 100%?
I would say 80% work for now and 20% socialization and family. Which could change later, but that’s where I am right now!
Do you ever get free time? What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Yes, I do make an effort to take time out of work and business. I love catching up with dear friends, engaging in some charitable causes or just do personal development activities- working out, yoga, dance or meditate!
What was the most challenging task you have ever accepted?
Nothing is too challenging. I would only accept work that I can deliver on. However, sometimes clients can be challenging in their expectations. Sometimes, they bring us a picture of what they want to be made, and what they bring in, is not something that is going to look the same on their body, as it looks on a model. So, it can get challenging to manage expectations of such clients sometimes.
Life is a wonderful, adventurous journey – full of surprises- where you never know what’s around the corner! It’s your own personal movie, where you are playing the lead! So, dress good- look your best, be your best, while you overcome the obstacles along the adventure, and be someone you would admire in a movie as a heroine or a hero!
Celebrities enjoy the brand:
“Tina Tandon is an amazing designer. Absolutely love all her designs and work” – Rasha Goel (Emmy Nominated TV Host)
“I get so many compliments on your outfits, every time…. Your clothes have a great fit, and you seem to understand the female body well.” Pooja Kumar (Actress)
“Allure with an edge…. Truly a class apart.” – Femina Magazine on T.TANDON collection
“Tina created a custom wedding dress that I LOVE….. Tina delivered something that fits me in every way and reflects the exact spirit I hoped to capture for the entire wedding day…” — Heather M. (CBS Executive)
