LuxeBook April 2020

I n a phone conversation with art historian Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, also the Managing Trustee and Honorary Director of Mumbai’s Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, she told me how art museums and galleries across the country have amped their game online. “What was supposed to happen over the next five to ten years is happening now,” she said. Virtual tours, online puzzles, interactive catalogues and so much more is on offer for all those who want to engage with art even when these spaces are locked down. What was supposed to happen over the next five to ten years is happening now A crisis is the mother of creativity The art fraternity, however, is not the only community acing this race. From jewellers to retailers and social media influencers are finding newer, more exciting ways to engage with their viewers during the lockdown. We have conversational French classes, virtual-reality driven shopping experience and even music lists on popular apps. This very desire to reach out to people, even if not physically, this determination to keep things going, this determination to write a new chapter in the history of humanity, during this unprecedented crisis, keep us going and always will. I am convinced that if we just stick together, helping each other, like so many Indian and global luxury brands have –makingmasks, sanitizers, donating money – to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we will see the end of this real soon. Until then, stay home, stay safe and be a little more creative every day. ADVERTISING SALES Mumbai (022 - 6846 8500) Regional Manager (West) — Katty Gia Senior Manager — Lamont Dias Delhi (011 - 6127 3135 / 6) Sr. General Mgr. (North) — Asha Augustine (09654567819) — Rishabh Malhotra Bangalore (0 98860 41356) — Nagesh Rao Kerala (0 94140 69321) — Sanjai Krishnan Hyderabad (0 89788 66599) — Sheetal Petkar Dubai (+971 45687583 / 503562723) — Mamta Pillai Manager Mktg. Services — Salim B Client Servicing Manager — Reshma Malvankar Founders —Marzban Patel Anita Patel Director Publishing — Indu Joshi Editor — Riddhi Doshi Assistant Editor — Pooja Patel Contributors — Ananya Bahl and Neeti Mehra Writers — Pratishtha Rana, Twinkle Dharmani Creative Director —Muhammad Jaan Faruqui Asst. Art Director — Vikas Hari Kinjawadekar Graphic Designer — Vivek N. Deshmukh Future-ready H ow tricky and challenging this summer, India’s peak travelling season, will be, depends on how soon we manage to free India from the novel coronavirus. And like the entire country and the world, we too hope that we are out of danger soon and the troubled tourism and hospitality sectors are revived at the earliest. These industries are pinning their hopes on domestic and ancestral travel and staycations, predicting that in the current situation, people might want to rediscover their ancestral hometowns and nearby luxury villas. In the meantime, hospitality groups and tourism boards are keeping their eyes on the future, devising plans t spring into action as soon as the health crisis ds a d make up for the losses. Exciting new destinations, projects and experiences are on the cards and the future certainly looks promising. Even for the luxury retail sector. Big indicators are the growing sales numbers at Mumbai and Delhi duty-free zones and a promising wealth report that pins its hopes on India and its HNIs. However, now is the time to be cautious, and in the spirit of social isolation, we, at LuxeBook , have taken the lead to ensure your safety, my dear reader, and have decided to go the onlin route to share this issue with most of our readers. Let us all do our bit. CONTENTS 04 Black Book 06 Trending 08 A Luxurious Affair 10 Cautious travel 18 E-Commerce 21 Interview 22 In the air 24 Luxe Influencer 26 Food & Beverage 28 Fashion 31 Report 32 Must Watch 34 Decoded 36 The Vibe This magazine is printed by and produced by Mediascope Representation (India) LLP. Opinions herein are the writers’ and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mediascope. Editorial enquiries concerning the reproduction of articles, advertising and circulation should be addressed to: LuxeBook , Mediascope Representation (India) LLP., 51, Doli Chamber, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India. Email: riddhi.doshi@mediascope.co.in . Material in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of the publisher. LuxeBook is printed at Silverpoint Press Pvt. Ltd., A-403, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400709. S O C I A L M E D I A https://www.facebook.com/luxebook https://www.instagram.com/luxebookindia https://twitter.com/luxebookindia riddhi.doshi@mediascope.co.in These industries are pinning their hopes on domestic and ancestral travel and staycations, predicting that in the current situation, people might want to r discov r their hometowns and nearby luxury villas Cover image: Lariss D’Sa 2 | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 2 04 Trending 06 A Luxurious Affair 0 Decoded 12 Food & Beverage 16 Social Solidarity 20 Conscious Luxury 4 E-Commerce 26 tail 28 Fashion 30 Eco-Friendly 32 The Vibe JWMarriott New Delhi is serving the community with 500 packed meals everyday under constant hygiene monitoring for the underprivileged during these tough times. jwdelhi.com