LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
THERE ARE POINTS IN OUR LIFE WHEN WE
crave newness; be it in the form of a literal clean slate, an actual physical move from what we once called home, or a fresh coat of paint that wipes out the past and changes the mood. As Spice navigates this space, charting territory that has been its domain for over a decade, we feel the need to turn your tired gaze away from the tried and tested, to a magazine with a nuanced sensibility and a futuristic vision. With this in mind, in this issue, we juggle fonts, colours, and forms to bring you a smartly curated magazine that focuses on the good life. The new-look Spice is as much about new design as fresh content. From major launches to in-depth features, from the hottest products to the coolest personalities, the magazine makes for excellent reading at a time when you are often forced to wade through online clutter to find your sweet spot. Here we find it for you.
Some have aptly termed this time of year as the silly season, a time for frivolity, for all that’s non-serious and indulgent. That mood finds itself reflected in fashion as well as runways teem with designs that don’t give a toss about norms. In our fashion issue, we graze the surface of this brilliance as we bring you a mix of trends, trendsetters, oldtimers and new products.
Our cover story brings to life an Indian couturier who made New York his home 18 years ago. He would have remained largely unsung, were it not for his well-known patrons who include Michelle Obama (he designed extensively for the former First Lady). Today some of America’s most influential women have designs on him. Bibhu Mohapatra’s journey from small-town India to the city of dreams is a classic one, yet vignettes of his journey and his interpretation of design makes for engaging reading.
We truly love our food and so we bring you a spread that’s hard to pass up on. Two formidable Michelin star chefs, Sriram Aylur and Srijith Gopinathan, discuss the role of innovation and the future of Indian cuisine. We also have ‘Mr Chocolate’ Jacques Torres who recently launched a new chocolate boutique in New York share his inspiration.
Out wanderlust finds us in the Maldives this month where we pick the five most luxurious resorts to escape to this summer. Taking a road trip? The new Ducati XDiavel is truly a devil on two wheels and always ready for a spin. We also have an eye on the newest gadgets and top brands in this issue. Walk with us as we flip the page to a new beginning.