"I like Thai, Chinese or Japanese cuisine as much as I love sitting for a Kashmiri wazwan (multi-course meal) beautifully laid on dastarkhan.Captivated by the elegance and craftsmanship of finely woven Pashmina shawls, textile designer Varuna Anand along with her husband Parveen Anand took up the task of reviving the fading art. They could be falling out of my wardrobe but that does not stop me from buying more. It was a common sight to see people in Jammu draped in exquisitely crafted shawls, and it was something that I had never seen in Delhi.

"After moving to Jammu, I realised the worth and the beauty of real Pashmina. In my collection, you will mostly find shawls with intricate needlework. Old school pop is a great stress buster for me, and it takes me back to my days of college. I have a wide range of Pashminas and I keep adding at least two to three new pieces every year to my wardrobe.

The grandeur, the opulence and the hospitality made it a once in lifetime experience. "I have selective friends.". I love using perfumes that I have tried and tested for years.Talking about her most cherished shawls and her personal collection, Varuna quips, "I got two shawls from my mother-in-law when I got married. I love buying perfumes. I love hanging out with them and grabbing a drink or two. "I owe a large part of my exposure and success to Farooq Abdullah and Maharana Sahib Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, who have gifted my shawls at levels which I could have never thought of and have helped me in the revival process," she elaborates. They are very dear to me and I still drape them on special occasions.Boasting of clients like the Maharana of Udaipur and the Maharaja of Indore.

Varuna says her favourite clients are the ones who understand and appreciate the art behind making these shawls." To keep the art of shawl-making alive, the designer keeps travelling frequently across the country. It was magical.Recalling one of her most memorable vacations, she says, "I attended the wedding of Maharana of Udaipur Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar’s son in 2014, with my daughters."Varuna admits being a very private person. She says, "I am a compulsive shopper and I can buy anything. The kind of embroidery, workmanship and hardwork involved in the making of these shawls inspired me to revive this dying art," recalls Varuna. In my free time, I love listening to George Michael, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bee Gees or Barry Manilow’s tracks on a repeat mode.

"Sharing her idea of de-stressing, Varuna, 46, a mother of two, says, "I am so passionate about my work that it is relaxation for me.An admirer of all things beautiful, Varuna confesses being a shopaholic. Varuna, who was born and brought up in Delhi, was married into a family from Jammu and Kashmir and that helped her turn her passion into a career. China plastic bottle machine Suppliers I want to add a silk embroidery shawl and a sage green shawl in my wardrobe."Varuna, a self-confessed foodie loves to take out time for a relaxed meal with close friends and family. I am quite archaic when it comes to buying perfumes. I am quite familiar with the regional cuisine prepared in the households of both Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits," she shares. After a hectic period of work, I love spending some qualitative time with my daughters and I like listening soft romantic numbers. I am getting there but there are more colours to add. I rarely add new fragrances to my list