Quarantine Creatives: Pallika Sood

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Pallika Sood

From the comfort of our Quarantine spots, I got into conversation with the gorgeous Pallika Sood. This young and upcoming fashion consultant has privileged London Fashion weeks with her garments as well as her following with the written word. Creating her own catwalk debut, under her own brand Narhari Quorum, Pallika went from a budding intern to being essential to the Qasimi team. It is apparent that her work ethos is encompassed by creating your own opportunities and working your arse off.

As we both sip our tea from our humble abodes, our virtual interaction almost made me forget this young entrepreneur was perched in Liverpool whilst I was braced in our beloved capital.  I dove straight in with the interview and this creative powerhouse was more than delighted to oblige.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Liverpool, Pallika was educated at Tower College, Rainhill before then making the transition into studying at Carmel college, St Helens. With fine art and textiles being primary to Pallika’s education choices, it was clear from a young age she wasn’t messing around when it came to doing what she wanted. Although her Indian Mother indulged in the textile world, her style was considered more “traditional” by Pallika. Pallika revealed that she sought a lot of inspiration from “nature and creating concepts around her works”.

“I like telling a story behind my work and always create a muse with that story”. For my own fashion show, I imagined a gangster who wasn’t about that life and wrote poetry”. Although Liverpudlian in background, Pallika’s time in London has laced her voice with a South London twang, which seems to make her magnetism even more appealing. It was clear to me that her conceptual approach when it came to fashion leaked into her own poetry that she kept private until this year when she decided to share her work online and “people are loving it”!

“I write a poem for every collection I work on”

It was almost animated when Pallika spoke about her poetry and talks of her future brand. It was clear she sought muse from the notion of working for herself. Using this lockdown as a way to cement and establish her own brand, she informed me of its inception.She sprinkled the brand name with her Indian heritage – Narhari meaning ‘man lion’ and Quorum referring to an important meeting. “Quroum is a meeting that cannot happen unless all relevant parties are present, the brand is a collective of these strong minded ‘lion like’ characters”. I was rendered speechless by this concept and knew immediately this brand will definitely be a force to be reckoned with. The conception of her brand came whilst she interning in Copenhagen at the age of 20. “This was a turning point for me because it gave me a sense of independence and adventure”.

Following Pallika’s graduation from the University for the Creative Arts in Kent, she zipped straight to London where she worked in retail for the good part of a year and then began work as a Copywriter for Net-A-Porter. During this time, she knew this wasn’t what she wanted to do. “I wanted to be in a design house working with a brand”. Rejection after rejection because of lack of experience is something that so many young creatives face so Pallika decided to create her own experience and hosted her own fashion show in East London in the summer of 2017. “I’m still paying that off now, but it was worth it”.

“I’m gonna do a fashion show”

After showcasing a collection of her own, Pallika began her journey as a pattern cutter (the blueprint creator of clothing as it were) and garment technician at Qasimi. Seeing her work being used on London Fashion Week’s runways was a peak in Sood’s career and got the wheels turning for her to venture on her own and continue to establish Narhari Quorum. This was until tragedy struck the fashion house of Qasimi, when the founder and creative director Khalid Al Qasimi passed away. “I felt like I was staying there for him, I didn’t want to miss working on the last collection he was a part of”. Pallika worked on her final season at Qasimi this year and became an official freelancer about a month ago before the hit of Covid-19.

I tentatively asked where she saw herself in five years, and she told me “Narhari Quorum will be off the ground as a fully functioning e-commerce business, I will be working on my poetry, and writing a book about my Mum”. This affirmative response simply upholds her strength and self- belief.

I, for one, am looking forward the powerful anthology and ventures to come from Miss Sood. I am well aware that this is just the beginning for her.

Travel Diary: Rajasthan, India

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Travel Diary: Jaipur

With quarantine blanketing our daily lives, it seems a lifetime away since any holidays or trips. In the midst of Covid-19, a reflection of my trip to India is what seems to be taking over my mind and what better way to document that journey than to share it with you lovely lot.

Having not been to the motherland in over 10 years, my recent trip was my first visit back as an adult. Having travelled to Punjab and Rajasthan, I will be particularly reflecting on my time in Rajasthan, Jaipur. This was a trip with my parents and two aunties…

As we drove into Jaipur, I was under the impression that the ‘Pink City’ would not be so literally pink. It was magnificent! In the late 19th century, Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur had the whole city painted pink in order to celebrate the arrival of Prince Albert. Every building and wall are still to this day maintained and thrives as a pink hub.

Our hotel was called the Golden Tulip. On arrival the entrance seemed grimy and I’m not going to lie I was a bit worried, however, once our driver passed through the car tunnel the actual hotel entrance was a calming contrast to the street on the other side (phew!). We were greeted by the politest staff and throughout the stay they were fantastic. The hospitality industry in India never fails to impress and the staff in Jaipur were no different- not many people would put up with the number of pictures I made these guys take of me!

CITY PALACE: hoping the Prince will stumble upon me being candid as hell…

Our 4 days in Jaipur were overflowing in history and food and we were lucky enough to have a driver who bought the honesty of a true Punjabi to Jaipur. Following the 8-hour drive from Punjab to Jaipur, we went straight to the hotel restaurant which filled our bellies, ready for the epic sleep that would prepare us for the next day.

The overall feel of Jaipur magnified with each and every sight, from the historic buildings to the traditional jewellers that made you feel like you were in Jodha Akbar (which I actually visited the palace of- *squeals). We found a Hindi speaking tour guide – literally came up to us in the middle of the road – who showed us the beauts of Jaipur and thank god that one of my auntie’s had exceptional Hindi speaking skills – because I butcher that ish.

I did have the pleasure of going to an elephant sanctuary, however, on reflection I’m not sure how much of a sanctuary it was. I still let the tourist in me take over and went on a short elephant ride, but next time I would definitely ask more questions about the care of the animals.

The Top 5 sites that I would recommend in Jaipur, signed sealed and delivered by myself would be:

  1. Amber Palace – This old school architecture will seriously blow your socks off.  This palace was a military marvel as well as a representation of old Rajasthan.
  2. Hawa Mahal – Literally translates to Palace of Winds.  I would come here at night to see the many windows light up. Back in the day, princesses could sit in here and look at parades down below without people being able to look in (major stalker set up I reckon).
  3. City Palace – This is home to the royal family, even today, and is a chance for you to learn more about Rajasthani monarchy and India’s interactions with Britain at the time.
  4. Rajmahal Palace – this gorgeous palace was one of my favourites, and not just because Bollywood movies were filmed here… The intricate designs and grandeur of this foundation made me feel separated from the built up word outside. Like I was inside a story, cringe I know, but it’s true.
  5. Jal Mahal – This palace floats in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake and because of the rising water level is not yet open to the public. It is rumoured that renovation means that the public may soon be able to visit inside in the next few years. For our trip, we gazed at the structure from the river side. I saw Jal Mahal at sunset and it was amazing, next time I would go at night when the Mahal is lit up.

Jaipur is definitely a must if you’re visiting India, and was a great first trip for to the state of Rajasthan. Can’t wait to go back and explore the rest of the state and, indeed, even more of India.

If you dare to dream of a post Covid-19 holiday:

Golden Tulip Hotel: https://jaipur.goldentulip.com/en-us?arrival=2020-03-29T00:00:00&departure=2020-03-30T00:00:00&rooms[0][adult]=1&rooms[0][child]=0&location=

The Importance of Breathing

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Lockdown has become primary to so many of our households now, and being in such a confined space can become a catalyst for anxiety. With so much uncertainty around us and so much conflicting information being given to everyone, we sometimes forget that simple breathing can bring momentary relief and help our thoughts align.

The British Lung Foundation outlines that our body needs oxygen in order to function at it’s best. Breathing supplies all of our vital organs with this and is crucial for our survival. Not only is breathing key to our functionality, but also beneficial for our mental health.

MESSY HAIR, DON’T CARE

Effective Breathing

When things get a bit much, take yourself to a quiet space (even if this means going into the bathroom for a sec) and exhale. Sometimes we have the tendency to hold our breath when situations get stressful. Exhaling will make you feel amazing! The action alone can symbolise the first step in moving forward, but actually fully exhaling is crucial to ridding our body of toxins and feeling less stagnated.

Basic Breathing Exercises

  1. Inhale deeply for 5 seconds, ensuring you fill your lungs
  2. Hold for 3 seconds
  3. Exhale for 5 seconds, ensuring your stomach flattens
  4. Repeat 5 times, but can also be done throughout the day

More Extensive Breathing

Adopting The Abdominal Breathing Technique is a way to take your breathe control further and is particularly effective when feeling stressed.

  1. Place one hand on your chest and other on your stomach.
  2. Take a deep breath through the nose and inflate your diaphragm (imagine you are filling up your lungs).
  3. Once your lungs feel ‘full’ or you experience a slight stretching then exhale slowly.
  4. Complete 5-10 sets of deep breathing.

With there being an array of breathing techniques, mastering control of your inhalation and exhalation is known to help reduce your heart rate and over a longer period of time can be extremely beneficial to your health. On top of that it’s great for your skin too!

THE BRITISH LUNG FOUNDATION:

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/how-your-lungs-work/why-do-we-breathe

FURTHER EXTENSIVE BREATHING EXERCISES:

https://greatist.com/happiness/breathing-exercises-relax#3.-Progressive-muscle-relaxation-

The Power of Colour

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With Holi taking India’s streets by storm, the festival of colours is the perfect trigger for endorphins and goodness in our own selves. Holi is the Indian festival of colours and spring, which is celebrated with fights of powdered colour and celebration. With the significance of this festival being a great way of symbolising a new start, it’s a great reminder to us all to inject positive energy for spring. Many of us busy bodies live under the smog of the city and we forget to embrace the vibrancy of colour in our everyday living. From our diets to clothing choices, not only are we changing up our routines, but also encouraging a more positive mindset that can aid a happier lifestyle.

Here’s my guide to integrating more colour into your lives!

GREEN: With green being symbolic of life and nature, it’s only fitting that we add more greenery into our diets. From vibrant salads to tangy guacamole, making this small change will not only add fresher colour to the eye, but strengthen your gut health. A great way to do this is by making an amazing Budda Bowl, or even having a house herb plant.

Check out Dr Megan Rossi’s pick and choose gut goodness bowls: https://balance.media/mix-match-gut-goodness-bowls/

HOLI

YELLOW: As the colour paired with sunshine and happiness, it could be argued that yellow is primary to our lives and encouraging a cheerful outlook. An extremely simple way to integrate yellow into your lives is through accenting this colour throughout our daily living. Choose a yellow accessory, full outfit or even change up your work coffee mug to add more brightness.

Etsy’s top mug picks are sure to add some colour: https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/yellow_coffee_cups

BLUE: This calming colour is synonymous with the sky and sea. It can encourage humility and calm. A great way to integrate this tranquillity in your life is by introducing it into your self-care routine. It can be as easy as using a blue bath bomb when taking a soak in the tub.

I recommend Lush’s Big Blue Bath Bomb: https://uk.lush.com/products/bath-bombs/big-blue

RED: The saucy and passionate red goes hand in hand with encouraging determination. This is a great bold colour to put a spring in your step and feel empowered for the day. Sometimes simplicity is key and this can be achieved with the classic red lip.

This will become a staple to your make up look: https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/matte-revolution-red-carpet-red

COLOUR IS KING

ORANGE: Being the love child of red and yellow, orange is an energetic colour and is reflected in our Vitamin C powerhouse, the humble orange. By simply eating more oranges during the day, we are not only providing our body with the vitamin C it needs, but giving us a citrus zing to stay awake through our infamous 3pm slumber. Even an orange or citrus scent can help us feel more awake and encourage creativity.

Try this amazing diffuser at home or at work: https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Orange-Rind-Diffuser/p/ORDDI?swatch=No+Colour

Making even one of these small changes is a great way to bring more vibrancy intro your everyday living and encourage creativity. Happy Colouring!

Wannabe Foodie #13: Dans Le Noir

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It’s always said that going out to eat should be an immersive experience. Dans Le Noir (Dine in the Dark) takes this to the extreme by providing a platform for diners to eat in complete darkness. The premise is based on heightening your other senses once you no longer have the option to see what you are eating- this is definitely one to do with people you are at the utmost comfort level with!

As a first timer at Dans Le Noir, I went with an intimate group of 4 for my birthday and opted for the £75 surprise menu. There are three options, red for meat, blue for seafood and green for veggie. You can of course outline any allergies, intolerances and extreme aversions that you may have before you enter the dining hall.

As part of the £75, we got a three course meal, a gin and tonic, prosecco and a surprise cocktail. As phones and belongings are put in lockers before hand, you are left entirely with you imgination as to what the food and restauraunt looks like.

All the waiting staff are full or partially blind which makes you even more aware and exposed when going into complete darkeness (and I mean pitch black)! You gain an understanding that for some people they live their life this way and this awaress is deepened as you continue the experience.

We were guided in by our waiter, we were led by holding onto his shoulder and each of us seated in the darkness. I was intitally worried about my cutlery placement as I thought that we would have to keep our table setting the same in order to aid our server, but it wasn’t neccessary at all – they completely navigated around us. Sounds naive I know, but it was expectation when we went in.

Following being seated, the noise in the area seemed instantly heightened and I was trying to figure out where abouts we were sitting and at first I thought we were by the wall, but then I felt a table being seated behind us, so I quickly realised that wasn’t the case.

Our first course came out very quickly as it was a pre ordered menu, I opted for red (the meat option). I guessed my first dish was pork and another party member had pigeon (which I have never tasted before so the taste was unfamiliar). Which was then followed by the main and a malta cake for dessert – this was a buttery oasis. No joke. The cake was fire…

Following the meal (and much alcohol :/) we were escorted out by our waiter (who was an absolute gem) and shown pictures of what we had just eaten. The time is very short as you pre choose what menu you would like before entering the restaurant.

Interestingly, there are not big groups of people waiting to go in at one time, it is all a very gradual and relaxed process. I would 100% only reccomed doing this with people you are entirely comfortable with as the dark room can be unerving and I feel that company can make all the difference to your experience.

Humble The Poet: A Live Experience Tour 2019

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Gracing Shaw Theatre in Kings Cross, Kanwer Singh AKA Humble The Poet gave an insight into his writings with the aid of his trusty raps and backstory.

H U M B L E

Even though I was in the back row, the intimate theatre meant that Humble was addressing the entire audience with his story and how he went from extreme debt to touring the world with his book tour. With a teaching background Humble made it clear how his skill set lay in making a lot of information digestible for anyone.

Unlearn and Things That No One Else Can Teach Us not only began as self-published pieces of writing, but are an aid to many people to make the most out of their life and enforce the best mindset to succeed. As a speaker himself he was very honest and passionate about the downfalls of life, which is typically atypical of motivational speakers and writers.

From hard hitting life losses to re setting his priorities , Humble doesn’t spare his audience the gritty details of his journey and how it was not plain sailing his life. It was uplifting, sad and motivational all at the same time. It was great to see a Sikh take to the stage and magnify his creative platform to inspire and help others as well as revealing his work revolves around the notion of Seva (selfless service). His tour was used as a platform to promote this primary belief in other people and encourgae support of on another.

I appreciate that his book is not designed to be read in any particular order, but to cater to even the laziest of readers, which works perfectly for me. All of his works have a high recommendation from me and you can flick to any page to get a small life lesson.

HUMBLE’S WORK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Humble-Poet/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AHumble+The+Poet

Wannabe Foodie #12: Doughnut Time, Shaftesbury Avenue

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Bringing the down under to London, Doughnut time has bought an exciting way to eat lavish doughnuts. With spots all over London, I headed to their flagship in Shaftesbury Avenue and tried out their tasty treats!

From the infamous Nutella stuffed doughnut to the Percy Pink pearls, Doughnut Time has a doughnut for every taste bud and fancy! I went for the Nutella classic (served with a mini Nutella Jar!), Kinder Egg doughnut and the Malteser Bunny number.

Doughnut time bakes their doughnuts fresh and once they’re gone, they’re gone! The first doughnut I devoured was the Nutella filled doughnut and I am telling you, they do not scrimp on that chocolatey goodness. As the filling is quite dense, you could probably (as much as you might not want to share this with someone. I personally loved it, however eating the whole thing, for me, was a mistake. When Doughnut Time say Nutella filled, they mean it!

Once the Nutella reign had calmed down, I moved onto the Kinder Egg doughnut. It was the vibrant orange icing and the prospect of building a toy that attracted me to this little baby and it did not disappoint. With no filling in this one, it was a lot easier on the stomach, you could really taste the freshness of the bake in this one. Topped with an actual Kinder Egg,t he decoration did not fail Doughnut’s time creative reputation .

Finally for the third course I tried the Malteaster bunny doughnut. This has a gorgeous chocolate outside, followed by a Malteser chocolate bunny topping. I gobbled this up in no time and I would say was my favourite out of the ones I tried.

The price points of these doughnuts, start from £4.50 and get cheaper per doughut depending on how many you buy. I would recommend going for a box of four and splitting the cost rather than going for four separate delights.

Alongside the regular showstoppers that Doughnut Time offers, the special edition doughnuts are also on my bucket list. The thematic nature of their specials, really encompass the diversity in and around London, embracing Chinese New year and Easter, just to name a few.

I am yet to try the famous Percy Pig delight, but I know I will definitely be revisiting this spot!

Try them out for yourself: https://doughnuttime.co.uk/

96 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5ED