• Bhavitha
    Journal

    Bhavitha Mandava: From New York Subway Discovery to Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026

    December 4, 2025 - By 

    Some journeys begin with a plan. Others begin without warning. Bhavitha Mandava’s started on an ordinary day in the New York subway, long before she imagined a career in fashion. She was an NYU student, focused on classes and everyday routines, when a chance encounter underground changed everything. She was scouted on the spot. Two weeks later, she walked her first show as a Bottega Veneta exclusive under Matthieu Blazy. She appeared in his campaign, learned the rhythm of the industry from within his studio, and stepped into a world that had never been part of her ambitions but quickly…

  • Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 collection runway look
    Journal

    Inside the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 Collection: Notes From My Journal

    December 4, 2025 - By 

    When I look at the Métiers d’Art 2026 collection, what stays with me is not just the clothes but the quiet world behind them. Matthieu Blazy brings New York into Chanel, but he does it through the hands of the artisans at le19M. The collection moves like a film, yet every detail comes from work that is slow, intimate and deeply human. Atelier Montex At Montex, embroidery begins as simple paper. A sheet is pricked with a needle, dusted with powder, and slowly becomes a motif. Nothing about it is rushed. Needlework, crochet and the Cornély machine all weave together…

  • Jane Goodall
    Journal

    Hope Is a Strategy: What We Can Learn from Jane Goodall

    November 8, 2025 - By 

    About Purpose, Courage, and Connection In a world where speed, profit, and distraction dominate, Jane Goodall remains one of the few voices reminding us what truly matters purpose, compassion, and hope. Until her final days, she continued to travel the world, not for fame or wealth, but to inspire people to protect the planet and believe that individual action still matters. Even at 91, her energy and conviction never dimmed. Listening to her words, you realize that “hope” for Jane was never naïve optimism. It was a daily practice a strategy for survival and meaningful change. 1. Purpose Is Stronger Than…

  • Journal - Luxury

    Olivier Rousteing Leaves Balmain

    November 5, 2025 - By 

    After 14 years, Olivier Rousteing is stepping down as Creative Director of Balmain  closing one of the most defining chapters in modern French fashion. When he took over the house in 2011 at just 25, Rousteing became one of the youngest creative leaders in Paris since Yves Saint Laurent and the first Black designer to lead a major French maison. His arrival marked the beginning of a new conversation in fashion: one that embraced diversity, inclusivity, and modernity without losing touch with heritage. A Decade of Transformation Rousteing gave Balmain a new voice confident, emotional, and deeply connected to culture. He understood that…

  • Journal - Luxury

    Luxury is adapting in the US and China.

    November 3, 2025 - By 

    I recently joined The Luxury Lowdown Act: How the U.S. and China by Vogue Business, hosted by Maliha Shoaib and Hilary Milnes As global trade tensions ease and consumer confidence begins to recover, the luxury industry is entering a new phase of recalibration. Experts unpacked how brands are adapting to a shifting trade landscape especially across the United States and China, the two most influential markets for luxury today. A More Stable Trade Climate After years of uncertainty, tariff relief in China is giving brands breathing room to plan ahead. While smaller labels remain cautious about cost exposure, major houses like LVMH, Kering, and Hermès…

  • Givaudan
    Journal

    Givaudan x Louvre Abu Dhabi

    October 31, 2025 - By 

    When Fragrance Becomes Art Givaudan and Louvre Abu Dhabi came together for a celebration that perfectly blended art, fragrance, and emotion. Held under the museum’s iconic dome, the event marked 25 years of Givaudan’s presence in the Middle East, and it felt like much more than a dinner it was a complete sensory journey. Guests began the evening surrounded by “Universal Breeze,” the museum’s new signature scent created by Givaudan perfumers Dalia Izem and Gaël Montero. Inspired by the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture and spirit of openness, the fragrance carried soft, luminous notes that filled the space with quiet harmony. After this first encounter, guests were guided through a private…

  • india-luxury-market-growth-2025
    Journal

    India’s Luxury Market to Hit $12.1 Billion in 2025 Here’s What’s Driving It

    October 28, 2025 - By 

    India’s luxury market is expanding faster than ever. Once known mainly for its mass brands and bargain culture, the country is now stepping into a new chapter of refined consumption. According to recent reports, India’s luxury goods market is expected to grow by 10 percent this year and reach $12.1 billion by the end of 2025, placing it among the fastest-growing luxury markets in the world. What’s Driving the Luxury Growth 1. Growing wealth and a new generation of consumers India has added thousands of new millionaires in the past year. A young, global, and connected generation is redefining luxury —…

  • Home - Journal

    Dolce & Gabbana Reimagines Italian Tailoring for the Modern Wardrobe

    October 26, 2025 - By 

    Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Italian Tailoring, celebrates craftsmanship and timeless style. Inspired by the brand’s archives, it brings classic Italian tailoring into a modern wardrobe — where elegance feels personal and effortless. The collection looks back at signature silhouettes from the 1990s and reshapes them through new proportions and fabrics. Masculine and feminine codes come together naturally, creating pieces that feel refined, versatile, and contemporary. Every look carries the balance of structure and softness that defines Italian design. Between Heritage and Modern Life This collection is a dialogue between past and present. It highlights traditional tailoring through rich fabrics…

  • Home - Journal - Luxury

    What Does Luxury Mean in Today’s World?

    October 26, 2025 - By 

    In an age of fast consumption and constant reinvention, the idea of luxury is quietly transforming. What was once defined by price, prestige, and exclusivity is now being redefined by meaning, purpose, and human connection. For decades, luxury stood for the rare and unattainable an emblem of perfection crafted for the few. But today’s world has shifted. The true value of a product or experience no longer lies only in what it costs, but in why it exists, how it’s made, and who it touches. Modern luxury is becoming less about showing and more about feeling. It’s about timeless craftsmanship, ethical creation, and emotional resonance. A hand-stitched…

  • Home - Journal - Recommended

    Welcome to my journal at byshubhamkumar.com

    October 25, 2025 - By 

    Hello. I’m Shubham Kumar. Welcome to my journal at BSK. Here, I write about luxury, sustainability, and craftsmanship  and share insights into luxury brands, fashion houses, and market trends that are shaping the modern world of beauty and refinement. This space is where I explore how luxury is evolving. I study how it is made, what it means to people today, and how it connects creativity, responsibility, and emotion. I have always been deeply drawn to luxury goods from fine jewelry and watches to handbags and ready-to-wear fashion. Each piece carries a story of design, skill, and culture. Through this journal, I aim to understand those stories more…