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News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
On Fashion Day, Over 50 Indian Fashion Designers Pledge To Go Feather-Free
Through Stella McCartney and PETA India's joint appeal, India's top fashion designers have committed to not use feathers in their creations. On Fashion Day, July 9, more than 50 top Indian fashion designers have committed to never use feathers going forward. Choosing compassion over fashion, the designers took the decision after learning from renowned British designer Stella McCartney and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India about the cruel ways birds are raised and killed for their feathers. 'Behind every feathered ensemble or accessory are birds plucked alive or that did not want to die. PETA India applauds these forward-thinking designers for pledging to leave feathers on the birds who were born with them and urges others to follow their lead," says Ashima Kukreja, Director of Corporate Affairs, PETA India. The designers and labels who have signed onto the Feather-Free Pledge hosted on include Anita Dongre, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Gaurav Gupta, Shyamal & Bhumika, Rina Dhaka, Jade by Monica and Karishma, Rajdeep Ranawat, Baggit, Virgio, Papa Don't Preach, Krésha Bajaj, Purvi Doshi, Dhruv Kapoor, Ashish N Soni, Zouk, Roy Calcutta, Pero, Dhruv Kapoor, EKA Design Studio, Purvi Doshi, Nida Mahmood, Aarti Vijay Gupta, Amrich Designs, Limerick Designs and Pia's Faux among others. Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla Cruelty isn't cool, people! We pledge ourselves to creating beauty through fashion that does not exploit or hamper the rights and freedom of birds. Let's dedicate ourselves to protecting birds and vow to be feather-free. Kindness is the ultimate style statement. I've signed this pledge and joined the PETA family not because it's politically correct but because it's something I truly believe in and going feather free is something I shall try and push my other colleagues to also follow. Gaurav Gupta At Gaurav Gupta, we believe in shaping the future of couture with compassion and consciousness. Our creations are rooted in emotion, innovation, and storytelling, without causing harm to any living being. Signing PETA's feather-free pledge is a natural extension of our commitment to cruelty-free design, where beauty is never at the cost of another life. 'In nature, ostriches share parental responsibilities, loyal geese partner for life, and ducks use vocalisations and body language to communicate. Yet, for fashion, feathers are torn by the fistful out of fully conscious, terrified birds or taken from those who are slaughtered. The feather trade also helps prop up the meat industry, since a bird's feathers can be sold at a much higher price per pound than their flesh," says Sachin Bangera, Vice President of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India, adding, 'A PETA US investigation into the largest ostrich-slaughter companies in the world revealed that workers forced frightened birds as young as 1 year old into stalls where they were electrically stunned, then slit their throats in full view of their flockmates." Design is all about innovation and there are designers who are creating vegan feathers made of bamboo, metals, or recycled materials. Global PETA entities have also joined with Stella McCartney to call on designers to commit to never using feathers in their collections, and also many top fashion events around the world including Victoria's Secret 2024 fashion show, Melbourne Fashion Week, Helsinki Fashion Week and Ibiza Fashion Festival among others have already pledged to be feather-free. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 09:09 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
PM Surya Ghar scheme: Karnataka moves at snail's pace
The introduction of the Gruha Jyothi scheme, along with the lack of ease in installation process, has contributed to the slow progress of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, under which subsidy is provided for the installation of rooftop solar systems to residential consumers, in Karnataka. The State so far had only 10,022 installations which is the lowest in South India. The latest data by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to the Rajya Sabha shows that there are 80,856 installations under the scheme in Kerala, 29,211 in Tamil Nadu, 16,556 in Andhra Pradesh, and 13,677 in Telangana. According to data by electricity supply companies (escoms), since the introduction of the scheme in 2022, across five escoms 2,21,273 applications have been received for the scheme, but not all of them have resulted in installations. Bescom has the maximum number of installations (4,245), while Gescom has the least (539), despite the region receiving ample sunlight throughout the year making it ideal for solar generation. 'When the Surya Ghar programme was launched, many people mistakenly believed that it offered fully subsidised rooftop solar systems. They assumed they could install solar panels at no cost, generate electricity for personal use, and earn income by selling the surplus to the grid. This misunderstanding led to a surge in applications,' a senior officer from Gescom explained. The utility has received over 10,000 applications for the scheme. He further cited the State's Gruha Jyothi scheme, which offers free electricity for households consuming up to 200 units a month, as another reason for the limited uptake. 'When people are already receiving free power, they are understandably reluctant to invest their own money in rooftop solar installations,' he said. 'To address this, we are now shifting focus towards households that consume over 200 units per month, as they have a clear incentive to adopt the Surya Ghar programme.' Commenting on the overall slow progress of the State under the scheme, Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, said that the scheme stagnated in the vendor selection stage. 'When the scheme was introduced, everyone applied. But when it came to the selection of vendors and banks online, they did not go ahead with it as they realised they had to take out a loan to get the subsidy. When there is free power under Gruha Jyothi scheme, they were not willing to take out loans to set up solar plants. None of them selected vendors and the process went into limbo.' Out of over 2 lakh people who had applied for the scheme, only 19,103 went for vendor selection, the data shows. The Energy Department now looks to pursue more consumers to opt for gross metering (under which the electricity generated will be sold directly to the grid instead of domestic consumption). 'People now feel that they will not get return on investment if they invest in solar plants residentially. Hence, Energy Minister K.J. George recently held a review and said that in order to provide some kind of benefit to consumers, we will push more electricity into the grid instead of domestic consumption (net metering). The rates will be applicable as per the tariff determined by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC)'. Consumers' side For consumers, what keeps them away from going ahead with the process is the hurdles they face along the way. Many of them complain that vendors and the sub-division officers demand bribes which deters them from going ahead with the installation. Rohit Agasarahalli, a lecturer by profession from Shivamogga district, said that at the time of constructing his house, he had taken permission for the load of 1 kW. But he wanted to extend it to 5 kW to avail himself of the PM Surya Ghar scheme. 'The process of enhancing the load took a lot of time,' he said. At one point he was so fed up that he wanted to give up. However, he continued and got the load extension. 'Finally, it worked out and I got the system installed. The subsidy amount was released once the generation started,' he said. He said that in order to make the scheme attractive, it should be made more consumer friendly. 'The system should be so simple that the beneficiary should be paying the required fee and expense, and the implementing agency or the vendor should be handling the rest of the work, including the extension of the load allotted. Then, people might opt for the scheme,' he stated. (With inputs from Kumar Buradikatti and Sathish G.T.)
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Delhi court frames charges against foreign national for smuggling cocaine in capsules
New Delhi: A Delhi court framed charges under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against a foreign national who allegedly smuggled 325g of cocaine by ingesting it as capsules. The court of special judge Gaurav Gupta on June 4 framed charges against the accused under NDPS Act sections 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy), 23 (punishment for illegal import), and 21(c) (contravention of the act involving commercial quantity), saying there was a prima facie case against him. The court noted that, according to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, accused Fahad Ssuuna entered into a criminal conspiracy along with his associates to illegally import 325g of cocaine hydrochloride from Ethiopia to India. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The accused was apprehended by DRI officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport on July 20, 2024. Later, he expelled 22 capsules at the airport and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the court noted. Pleading not guilty to the charges, the accused claimed trial, following which the court posted the matter for Sept 8 for the prosecution to submit its evidence.
NDTV
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Is A Breastplate The New Blouse? What The Fashion Industry Says
This era is marked by all the fashion girls swapping the OG blouses with figure hugging and maximal breastplates. The lehengas and sarees are up for being paired with breastplates that are all about cinched waistlines and structured cast-like upper bodice pieces that have painted the bridal OOTD space in the upcoming wedding season. The carefully crafted breastplates that sculpt bodies like a glove are paired with dreamy lehengas and graceful sarees alike. What's more, the modern Indian bride seems to be going gaga over giving this age-old silhouette a contemporary spin to be viewed from an all-new point of view. Leading Indian couturiers and designer labels such as Gaurav Gupta, KALKI and Divya Aggarwal are enveloping the sculptural vibes of the perfectly contoured torsos dressed in breastplates that add all the drama with a contemporary touch to wedding ready ensembles. What is born all thanks to the right mix of lehengas, sarees and breastplates is the perfect mix of ethnic wear and a hint of rebel-coded bridal chic couture. It is the best of both the worlds that boasts of an amalgam of Indian traditional wear and bad*** confidence. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial) NDTV spoke to fashion industry giants and designers to break down all the deets about breastplates as a growing sartorial staple on the ethnic Indian couture front. What's Up With The Breastplates Trend Replacing The OG Blouses? Is It Here To Stay And Slay This Wedding Season? Ace Indian designer Gaurav Gupta spilled the beans on all things breastplates to NDTV,"Fashion is all about invention and re-imagination. Breastplates for us, as a brand, is where fashion meets art or wearable architecture, sculptural yet feminine and defining. The woman of today is poetic and powerful and I think breastplate is an evolution of the blouse that merges the two masterfully." Speaking on the future slay worthiness of the trend this wedding season, Gaurav Gupta agreed, adding, "Today's bride wants to feel like a goddess - armoured, ethereal and unforgettable. These pieces bring emotion and structure to a moment that's deeply personal. It's not a trend, it's a movement." Saurabh Gupta, CEO & Founder at KALKI, is of the opinion, "Breastplates are the brave new vocabulary of bridal and celebratory couture. They're redefining the blouse's role, from supporting actress to head-turning star. This trend speaks volumes - Indian women today are no longer shy about combining sensuality with structure." He further expresses his opinion on the trend. "Brides, bridesmaids, and even wedding guests are trading in classic blouses for chiseled bustiers and fashion-forward corsets. Not only are they style-forward, but also incredibly versatile, giving lehengas, sarees, and even draped skirts a much-needed dose of edge and elegance." Fashion designer Divya Aggarwal thinks that it is honestly only a matter of time until the breastplate trend paints the sartorial lanes red. "Today's woman doesn't want to just 'match her blouse to her lehenga'. She wants to express something. She saw this coming, a shift from utility to statement. Sculpted breastplates give structure, strength, and sensuality in a way no traditional blouse can. And yes, they're here to slay." This gives us quite an array of perspectives on the breastplates trend with all of them pointing towards the reign of the statement garment in the Indian couture space in the current wedding season and the ones to come. Quick Tips To Dress Up Or Dress Down A Breastplate For A Casual Day-Out Or A Wedding Function Gaurav Gupta gives NDTV his point of view on how to style a breastplate for a bunch of occasions. "It's all about storytelling. For a casual day, wear it with jeans; it's cool, effortless yet disruptive. For weddings, go maximal; embroidered corsetry, metallic bustiers, fluid drapes. Play with duality," he added. Saurabh Gupta lends his ideas saying, "To dress it down, simply wear a breastplate with flared palazzos or a high-slit skirt for a mehendi brunch or sundowner. And to dress it up, get complete glam with a hand-embroidered corset top and silk lehenga or a draped saree for a reception or cocktail. Layer a sheer cape or show-stopping dupatta to take it to the next level." Divya Aggarwal shares her styling tips and tricks, "That's the beauty of it. When done right, sculpted breastplates can go from art gallery night to cocktail night. It's all in the styling, and that's what today's woman truly enjoys - flexibility." How Do Breastplates Fit Into A Modern Indian Bridal Wardrobe? Gaurav Gupta speaks to NDTV on the fusion of breastplates with the modern Indian bride, "They are the centre piece. A sculpted breastplate gives the bride emotional armour. It's where couture meets inner strength. You walk down the aisle not just adorned, but awakened." Saurabh Gupta gives his point of view, "They're the ultimate combination of form and glitter. Contemporary brides are embracing styles that look tough and cutting-edge. Consider crystal-beaded breastplates under organza dupattas, classic origins, and nonconformist conclusions." Divya Aggarwal adds her perspective on the place of breastplates in contemporary bridal couture, "They fit like power fits a queen. Breastplates often become the jewellery - metallic, moulded, and dramatic. They're not accessories. They're statements. Our brides don't want to be just pretty, they want to be unforgettable." How Can Bridesmaids Include A Breastplate In Their Celebration Looks? Gaurav Gupta's perspective on how breastplates can be styled by bridesmaids, "Make the look light, fluid and functional. Bridesmaids can wear structured corsets in metallic tones, paired with draped pants or skirts. It's playful couture that allows movement, magic, and moments. Think celestial but chill." Divya Aggarwal tells NDTV,"Think less matching, more mixing. We love styling bridesmaids in breastplates over draped tunics or silk shirts that can be incredibly fresh and edgy. These are pieces they'll re-wear long after the wedding's over. And that's exactly what we aim for, longevity in style." How Do You View This Mix Of Tradition And Rebellion In Couture? Gauarv Gupta is literally living for this amalgam. "That's the tension I live for. I love heritage, but I also love breaking it open to find new shapes. Breastplates let me fuse mythology with futurism. They are the couture of emotion and rebellion." Saurabh Gupta views the mix through KALKI's lens, "We adore the conversation between heritage and risk at KALKI. Breastplates crossing over with ethnic wear is a new-age bride, bold, sensual, and earthy. It's not about rebellion; it's about reinvention." Divya Aggarwal is of a similar opinion to the other couturiers and designer labels, "It's my favourite kind of chaos, here two worlds collide to create something entirely new. As a designer, I'm deeply rooted in the Indian visual language, but I'm equally obsessed with form, fit, and silhouette. Breastplates offer that intersection of control and fluidity. It's not rebellion for the sake of shock, it's rebellion that makes sense." Favourite Bollywood Divas Who Have Worn And Endorsed The Breastplate Trend View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial) Gaurav Gupta, who has dressed the leading ladies of Bollywood in his iconic custom breastplate couture pieces, says, " Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, Kiara Advani, they've all worn breastplates like second skin." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial) He even named his favourite Hollywood divas, "Internationally, Shakira and Kelly Rowland, they wear our breastplates like armour. It's not celebrity dressing, it's couture." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial) Saurabh Gupta speaks to NDTV,"From Kiara Advani in metallic bustiers to Janhvi Kapoor and Tara Sutaria in chiseled breastplates, the new-age glam squad is completely sold. Even Sonam Kapoor has brought on the breastplate-meets-saree moment with effortless panache." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial) Divya Aggarwal also drops names of her fave divas, "Several stunning women are pushing the envelope. Kiara Advani has played it both soft and sculpted. Janhvi Kapoor wears breastplates with such ease, she knows how to balance structure with softness. These women get it, it's not about wearing a breastplate, it's about owning it." Your Two Cents On The Future Of This Sartorial Trend? Gaurav Gupta's shares his take with NDTV, "The future is fluid, sculptural, and deeply individual. Breastplates will keep evolving towards becoming lighter, softer and bolder. They'll belong not just on runways, but also in wardrobes. It's a revolution of form, fit, and feeling." Saurabh Gupta adds on behalf of KALKI, "Breastplates are staying, but they'll continue to develop. Look for more blending, more customisation, and more whimsical layering. Indian fashion is redrawing the rules, and this trend is at the forefront." Divya Aggarwal shares her POV, "Breastplates aren't a passing phase, they're a recalibration. The blouse is no longer just a piece of clothing, it's a power move. And as long as Indian women continue to evolve in identity, ambition, and self-expression, this trend will only grow stronger." It is safe to say that it is the era of breastplates taking centre stage in Indian couture and we are just living in it.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Hudson Shines With $270,000 Jared Atelier Diamonds on 2025 BET Awards Red Carpet, Styles Vera Wang-collaborated Necklace for Performance
Jennifer Hudson was shining on the red carpet at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday night in Los Angeles. The EGOT winner performed onstage to honor BET Ultimate Icon Award recipient Jamie Foxx, singing the 'Ray' Oscar winner's song 'Gold Digger.' For her arrival on the red carpet, Hudson styled a long-sleeve black Gaurav Gupta gown. Hudson wore a collection of jewelry courtesy of Jared Atelier, totaling $270,000 and 46 carats. On the red carpet, Hudson wore the Jared Atelier Eternity Ring ($115,000), another diamond ring ($33,000) and a third multicut diamond ring ($13,000). More from WWD Doechii Styles Floor-length Braids With Miu Miu Look for 2025 BET Awards Mariah Carey is the 'Ultimate Icon' in White and Gold Dresses at the 2025 BET Awards Meet Raz & Company New York, One of Jewelry's Newest Entrants Along with the three rings, Hudson also wore the Jared Atelier Pear-Shaped Natural Morganite and Diamond Necklace ($85,000) and the Round & Marquise-Cut Diamond Drop Earrings ($32,000). Hudson completed the red carpet look with a pair of heels courtesy of Betsey Johnson. She was styled by Maeve Reilly. For her performance attire, Hudson changed into a blazer-inspired minidress with sharp, exaggerated lapels and rounded shoulders. The 'Dream Girls' breakout star added a touch of sparkle to her look, wearing Jared Atelier x Vera Wang Diamond Strings Motif Diamond Drop Necklace ($85,000). Vera Wang and Jared Atelier have a close collaborative relationship. Last December, the designer and jewelry label collaborated on a high jewelry collection featuring Wang's design codes and infused with personal touches. The high jewelry collection, featuring Vera Wang and Jared Atelier, showcased three pillars: Ribbons, Serpents and Diamond Strings. Overall, the collection featured 14 styles crafted from 18-karat white gold and encompassed a total of more than 150 carats of natural diamonds. Prices ranged from $12,500 to $125,000. Celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary, the 2025 BET Awards took place on Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, honoring the best in Black music, entertainment, sports and culture. The event was hosted by comedian and actor Kevin Hart. Guests included Teyana Taylor, GloRilla and Leon Thomas, among others. View Gallery Launch Gallery: BET Awards 2025 Red Carpet Arrivals, Live Updates Best of WWD Mia Threapleton's Red Carpet Style Through the Years [PHOTOS] Princess Charlene of Monaco's Grand Prix Style Through the Years: Louis Vuitton, Akris and More, Photos Princess Charlene's Monaco Grand Prix Style Evolution at Full Speed: Shades of Blue in Louis Vuitton, Playful Patterning in Akris and More
