Waris Ahluwalia

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Waris Ahluwalia
Born 1974 (age 49–50)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Nationality Indian American
Other names Waris Alhuwalia
Occupation Designer, actor
Years active 2004–present
Website houseofwaris.com

Waris Ahluwalia (born 1974 in Amritsar, Punjab) is an Indian American designer and actor based in New York City. His company, House of Waris, has collaborated with a number of other designers and artists throughout the years.[1] House of Waris came into being after the owners of Maxfield's in Los Angeles noticed Ahluwalia's elaborate diamond rings and placed an order, which sold out.[2]

Early life

Ahluwalia was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India, and moved to New York at the age of five.[3]

Career

Designer

House of Waris, founded by Ahluwalia, is strongly influenced by the romance and history of ancient kingdoms.[4]

Ahluwalia, who is now based in New York City, travels frequently to Rome and Rajasthan, working with craftsmen in each city, from goldsmiths to diamond setters who once made the crests for royal families.[5] He was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist in 2009, and in 2010 he was inducted as an official member of the CFDA.[6] The same year, Ahluwalia was placed on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List, anointed British GQ's second best dressed man internationally and included in Vogue's 10 Most Impactful people list.[7][8][9] He also pens the column 'Love & Waris' on Style.com.[10]

In October 2010, House of Waris opened a pop up tea room under the High Line.[11] The pavilion of the pop up space housed apparel and accessories from designers like Rodarte, A.P.C., book publisher Assouline and jewelry by Ahluwalia himself. The garden area served tea from the Himalayas and food from NYC restaurants like Café Cluny and Bar Pitti.[12]

In February 2011, Ahluwalia held his first New York Fashion Week presentation at the Museum of Arts & Design, launching a line of scarves made in India: block printed, hand dyed, silk screened, made of the finest cashmere and silks.[13]

Collaborations/special projects

Using House of Waris as a platform for collaborations, Waris has worked with A.P.C., Forevermark of the De Beers Group of Companies, and Tilda Swinton for Pringle of Scotland.[14][15][16] Ahluwalia has also collaborated with Benjami Cho, yoox.com, Lookmatic, the Webster Miami, Colette in Paris, Elliott Puckette for NewbarK, and the World Gold Council.[17][18][19]

In response to the attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, Ahluwalia, along with Mortimer Singer and Tina Bhojwani, created To India, with Love, a book aiming to raise funds, spirits, and awareness for the victims of the attacks.[20] All of the proceeds went directly to Taj Public Service Welfare Trust in conjunction with Mumbai: We Got Your Back! (WGYB!), an organization founded by the three editors.[21][22]

In 2012, Ahluwalia contributed to the summer issue of The Paris Review, writing an essay on art featuring the work of Walton Ford and Ryan McGinley.[23] Ahluwalia also collaborated with the world-renowned restaurant from New Delhi, BUKHARA.[24] The restaurant opened an exclusive pop up in London at the Sheraton Park Tower in which Ahluwalia served as Creative Director.[25] The pop up ran for two weeks and donated a portion of the proceeds obtained to support the Elephant Family non-profit organization.[26]

As a part of his role as Global Ambassador for Starwood's Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, Ahluwalia wrote and produced the original short film, "HERE: a Film" by Luca Guadagnino. The film's team included Tilda Swinton (co-writer), Heidi Bivens (stylist), Jason Schwartzman (music) and Agyness Deyn (actress).[27][28]

In 2013, House of Waris launched a line for Valentine's Day, called 'Boo', referring to it as a term of endearment. To promote the line, Ahluwalia commissioned 9 artists and filmmakers to make short films titled "You're my Boo." The list of artists included Phillip Andelman, Casey Neistat, Brett Stabler, Ben Watts, and Hailey Gates; as well as John Forté, Mick Rock, Matthew Frost.[29][30]

Ahluwalia has also collaborated with Illesteva Eyewear on a line of sunglasses that launched April 2013.[31] The sunglasses are made in France and are available in four colors.[32]

In 2013, Ahluwalia was featured in a Gap "Make Love" campaign ad that received attention from consumers and the media alike.

Actor

Ahluwalia's first film was The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) by Wes Anderson, as Vikram Ray, with a cast that included Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, and Cate Blanchett.[33] He played a short role in Wes Anderson's critically acclaimed The Grand Budapest Hotel. His new movie, Beeba Boys, directed by Deepa Mehta and starring Randeep Hooda, is coming out on October 16, 2015.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America Brown Natasha Lyonne's friend
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Vikram Ray
2005 The F Word Republican Fundraiser
2006 Inside Man Vikram Walia
2007 High Falls Bud Short film
The Darjeeling Limited The Chief Steward
Hotel Chevalier Security Short film
Henry the Otter Store Clerk 1
2009 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead Hugo Pepper
2010 I Am Love Shai Kubelkian
2012 Missed Connections Pradeep
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Dino
2015 Beeba Boys Manny

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Unusuals Customer Episode: "Pilot"
2013 The Carrie Diaries The Sikh Episodes: "Pilot"
"The Great Unknown"

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Interview, SicChic (2007).
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links