Who is Karishma Rajani?
The 22-year old fashion enthusiast from Mumbai writes a blog, ‘Purple Peeptoes’, which comes like a breath of fresh air in cliché-ridden blogosphere. Started in ‘09, it now has a cult following among the young in India.
Combining personal style tips and lifestyle quirks, Karishma’s blog revolves around the concept of “people-spotting”.
“It can be challenging at times when I just happen to spot someone wearing an interesting outfit on the road. I chase them, ask them to pose for pictures and give me info on how they got the inspiration to mix and match their choices,” she exclaims.
Three years ago, Karishma was blog-hopping when she came across a Paris blog that fascinated her. “I’d only seen runway models or celebrities dress up before; but for the first time, I was seeing pictures of normal people, like you and me, sport their own looks. India with its cultural diversity, has so much to offer, but sadly, apart from people who work in fashion or are related to the industry in some way, no one else is conscious. From lawyers to students, everyone can develop an identity by taking note of this. I wanted to document this Indo-Western trend and create an awareness of sorts about it,” explains Karishma.
But she was certain that her blog wouldn’t succumb to mainstream conventional standards “just to get hits or likes” and that her offbeat philosophy would definitely attract a niche fan base. “There are often surprising moments like when I get into an auto and a random stranger tells me she loves my blog! Along the way, the people I’ve met and photographed have stayed in touch too, opening up to me about their lives as I talk to them,” says Karishma, who is a writer by profession.
Her enjoyment of street shopping certainly comes through in her blog, as Karishma’s journeys through bazaars, narrow roads, junk markets, etc come to vivid life in her blog photos “Indian fashion doesn’t necessarily have to be saris and traditional outfits. An ethnic ensemble can be put together, using Western clothing too. One of my most memorable experiences was when I ran into some Narikuravar girls in Chennai, selling some fantastic beads, representative of tribal design. This is exactly what our philosophy should be all about,” she sums up with a smile.
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