Fashion, Conversations, and Couture: The Raymond Chairman's Collection Unveiled

20th March, Thursday evening, was nothing short of spectacular at the Raymond Chairman’s Collection event, where fashion, culture, and intriguing conversations converged. Thanks to an evening curated and conceptualised by luxury Consultant and celebrity author Nisha JamVwal, I had the honor of attending and mingling with some remarkable individuals, including the distinguished Chairman Gautam Singhania himself - after whom the new collection is named- where she graciously invited me.

Introduced by Luxury Consultant Nisha JamVwal as an AI wizard to the Chairman himself, meeting Gautam Singhania was indeed an extraordinary experience for me. His sharp eye quickly discerned the tailoring imperfections in my suit—a subtle reminder of Raymond’s legendary craftsmanship. Our conversation soon took an engaging turn as I mentioned the name of my old hedge fund boss from London Jewish Iranian Billionaire - Vincent Tchenguiz, capturing Singhania’s attention immediately. He spoke of his friendship with both Tchenguiz Brothers Robbie and Vino with such warmth as his eyes lit up.

Singhania, ever charismatic, humorously quipped, “There can never be a technology” he said “that predicts how wives will behave,” gently nodding to a media controversy earlier that day involving his estranged wife’s official booting out from his company. Despite personal and professional turbulence, Singhania carries himself with admirable elegance, reflecting a refined taste that remains unwavering amidst life’s ups and downs. Mr Suman was quick to pick up the conversation with a joke that cracked us up.

As a multitasking architect, Nisha JamVwal, along with the Raymond team, created an art gallery installation-like atmosphere. With displays, story boards, mannequins, sketches and swatches, to involve her friends in the experience of creation. With JamVwals' overriding role in crafting the evening as an immersive experience of art, couture, architecture & all disciplines into an unforgettable experience.

It took JamVwal three weeks of night and day creation and planning with Raymond's head designer, Nameet Srivastava, to craft the outfit for her so that she could be part of the installation herself. JamVwal brought together just the exact right people of which 250 guests thronged the venue in an unprecedented medley of politicians, like Hon Minister MLA Adv Aashish Shelar, artists (Sandeep Soparkar, & Riyaz Komu founder of the Kochi Biennale ), IAS top honchos Amitabh Singh, Atul Jhamb, Milind Hardas, top cops Krishna Prakash, stars and actors Neil Nitin Mukesh, Zayed Khan, Jackie Shroff, Shekhar Suman, Anu Malik, Taher Abbas, Tarun Khanna, Amit Saad, orators, sustainablity environmentalists, professors from TIFR, and wellness gurus like Dr Mickey Mehta to create a medley of Mumbais colourful mix.

The Members from the Raymond Limited organisation took the guests on a walkthrough of the collection themselves, making the whole experience super personalised for each guest. Each piece is truly a work of art showcased by the ever so talented and skilful Nisha JamVwal.

The evening was peppered with stimulating exchanges. Shekhar Suman, known for his wit and charm, effortlessly entertained both Singhania and me, sharing ideas on integrating AI into his future projects—a fascinating dialogue I’m eager to continue.

Meeting legendary Ad Man Prahlad Kakkar was another highlight; our mutual admiration for my old friend Goldwyn Fonseca, a protégé of the legend himself, and Goldwyn’s DOP brother Sylvester’s impactful work in the Vicky Kaushal, Abhishek Bachchan and Tapsee Pannu starter “Manmarziyaan” directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap sparked lively discussions. Conversations flowed effortlessly with talented actors Manish and Sangeeta, adding to the evening’s charm.

A standout moment was my encounter with an intriguing influencer; our exchange humorously underscored Bandra’s rise as Mumbai’s cultural epicenter, overtaking traditional bastions like South Mumbai. Observing these shifting cultural dynamics was as fascinating as the event itself.

Turning attention to Raymond’s Chairman’s Collection—simply outstanding. With vibrant colors, intricate embroidery, exquisite zardozi, and beadwork, each piece was a statement in elegance and craftsmanship. Surprisingly affordable, this collection deserves much greater recognition for making sophisticated fashion accessible. As JamVwal stated in her very charismatic chat with Singhania, it’s a game changer and will be one brand that will take India to the world instead of indians patronising international brands with such obsequious eagerness.

Amidst delectable food and flowing Veuve Clicquot, the evening was impeccably orchestrated by Nisha JamVwal. I could see her hand in the menu with some perennial favourites that guests savoured. Her ability to curate immersive experiences beyond her royal affiliations is commendable, showcasing art, culture, and design through her unique lens.

It was a night of fascinating dialogues, new acquaintances, and fashion at its finest. Events like these solidify my belief in Mumbai’s resurgent prominence on the geopolitical stage and leave me eagerly awaiting the next cultural soirée.

It truly was a night Mumbai will remember for a long time to come!

Other notable attendees included legends like Amtura Fadnavis, Ravi Shastri and more. B-Town Celebs such as Tanuj Garg, Madhur Bhandarkar, Chunky Pandey, and Anmol Malik also graced the event along with dignitaries like Sanjay Bhatia.

However, as always, my heart was stolen yet again by my lovely Shashi Bansal, the mum of Nisha JamVwal.