#BazaarBehindTheScenes: From designer Arpita Mehta to art curator Noelle Kadar, this photoseries shows where seven creatives make magic

Before the big reveals, before the headlines, there’s the making, the process—the messy desks, the fabric scraps, the walls plastered with half-formed ideas a long way off from being finetuned. These are the rooms and corners where the magic happens, long before it’s ready for the spotlight. A pile of swatches here, a mirror ringed with brushes there. With #BazaarBehindTheScenes, we get an inside look into the worlds of India’s most exciting names in fashion, art, beauty, music, and culture. What we find isn’t just the making of the work—it’s the making of the person.

Pranay Jaitley, Co-founder, Who Wore What When

 

 

What began in Milan as 'Diary of a Camera,' a street style blog by two design students, has grown into a full-fledged styling house in Mumbai, where the worktable is often buried under lookbooks, jewellery cases, and last-minute couriered samples. In this space, co-founders Pranay Jaitly and Shounak Amonkar plot the fashion arcs of Bollywood’s A-list, moving between fittings, moodboard reviews, and campaign shoots. Racks line the walls, holding meticulously curated pieces for red carpets, magazine covers, and brand stories; polaroids and scribbled notes are pinned alongside them, marking each look’s journey from idea to photograph. It’s less an office, more a living storyboard.

Arpita Mehta, Designer

 

 

Known for her mirror-work, pastel palettes, and easy, contemporary take on Indian festive wear, Arpita Mehta has built a label that balances tradition with modernity. Her workspace reflects that same balance—functional yet quietly stylish. Long tables are laid out with fabric swatches, embroidery samples, and in-progress patterns. Racks carry everything from freshly cut pieces to ensembles ready for campaigns. In one corner, artisans hand-embroider mirror details, while the design team debates colours and silhouettes. It’s a space where ideas turn quickly into garments, each piece carrying the relaxed glamour her label is known for.

Abhay Sehgal, Artist

 

 

Abhay Seghal’s work is a vivid interplay of history, mythology, and contemporary commentary—paintings that stretch across walls and pull viewers into layered worlds of pattern, symbolism, and saturated colour. A graduate of the London College of Fashion turned full-time artist, he often incorporates textile sensibilities into his canvases, blurring the line between fine art and design. In his studio, monumental works-in-progress lean against every surface, while mannequins draped in painted garments stand like silent collaborators. Brushes rest in jars beside open pigment pots, and the floor bears a permanent dusting of colour, as though the space itself has absorbed his palette.

Noelle Kadar, Curator and Cultural Producer

 

Noelle Kadar’s career bridges art, design, and cultural storytelling, with a practice rooted in creating immersive experiences that connect heritage with contemporary relevance. Known for her work with institutions, independent projects, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, she approaches curation as both a craft and a dialogue. Her workspace reflects that fluidity—walls lined with books and exhibition catalogues, tables scattered with models and material samples, and corners occupied by found objects that may someday anchor a show. There’s an intentional slowness to the room, a sense that each item is part of a larger conversation waiting to be assembled.

Namrata Soni, Makeup Artist and Beauty Entrepreneur

 

 

With over two decades shaping some of Bollywood’s most iconic beauty looks and now as the founder of the beauty brand Simply Nam, Namrata Soni has built a reputation for precision, innovation, and an instinctive understanding of what makes a face luminous on and off camera. From magazine covers to bridal transformations, her work balances technical mastery with a signature natural elegance. Her studio is a reflection of that ethos: spotless counters lined with meticulously organised palettes, brushes arranged by size and function, and lighting calibrated to reveal every nuance of skin tone. It’s both a place of ritual and reinvention, where each client’s transformation begins in calm, deliberate preparation.

Florian Hurel, Celebrity Hairstylist

 

Paris-born and Mumbai-based, Florian Hurel has actually shaped some of the most memorable hair moments in Indian fashion and film with his signature an interplay of French precision and effortless glamour. With a client roster that spans Bollywood’s leading names and the glossiest magazine covers, his work carries a refined ease—whether it’s a sculptural updo for couture or undone waves for the red carpet. His studio mirrors that sensibility: a minimalist expanse where black styling stations gleam under natural light, tools aligned like instruments in a score, and the faint scent of salon oils hangs in the air. The atmosphere is one of unhurried intent—a measured choreography where every section, every snip, builds towards a look that is as much about presence as it is about style.

Malavika Manay, Founder, Earth Mama Smoothie Bar & Kitchen

 

Malavika Manay, a certified pranayama teacher and yoga trainee, founded Earth Mama to help people cultivate a deeper connection with their food. Her own journey with food has been a complex and transformative one, marked by a series of health challenges. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, Manay adopted a strict diet and embraced natural healing methods. This journey inspired the creation of the café that not only serves nourishing food but also houses a guide to essential oils, holistic books, and oracle cards, reflecting Manay's holistic approach to healing and wellness. Her workspace strikes a balance between comfort and focus. It’s the kind of environment that makes working feel easy—inviting, calm, and just inspiring enough to keep ideas flowing.

 

Compiled by Khushii Surana

Lead image: Who Wore What When, Arpita Mehta, Abhay Sehgal, Namrata Soni

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