NYC South Asian fashionistas unite!

Last night in NYC, the South Asian Women's Leadership Forum threw another great event at Cynthia Rowley's Chelsea store with special guest Cynthia herself. The organization aims to bring together, and advance, South Asian women and girls. A great cause combined with designer fashion and free-flowing champagne all made for a perfect evening!

Cynthia speaking to South Asian women about being in Fashion

Ashlene Nand from Brown by Ashlene 

Right: Gauri Pendse, BBA's Social Media Diva

America Finally Ready To See Brown?

There's been a lot of talk over the last 5-8 years about Indians (I prefer to say 'South Asians', as not to exclude neighboring countries and ethnicities) being accepted in Hollywood, but in recent months things have spiked. We're now seeing a rapid integration of Brown faces across mainstream U.S. culture. And it's become so finely integrated & common to the masses that one could even miss it, if it wasn't for folks like me pointing it out, with joy, as if each new Brown face is another win in America's global identity crisis. 

Although we're going to mention some of the recent and upcoming talent via Hollywood, South Asians can be now spotted across numerous creative and entertainment industries including literature, television, fashion, social media/tech and so on. After a decade of wondering where South Asians were placed in mainstream USA, I think it's safe to say we've arrived. Check our Facebook for daily updates on what's happening in the world of Brown chic. ~ashlene xo

Freida Pinto is now a bonafide Hollywood star with another box-office hit on her hands.

Kal Penn made a return to Hollywood this month with his successful franchise 'Harold & Kumar'.

Although Anil Kapoor is a newcomer to Hollywood, he is a legend to many Bollywood fans.
Next month will be his second appearance across U.S. theaters after Slumdog Millionaire.

One -To-Watch: Aziz Ansari made an appearance earlier this year and no doubt will be one-to-watch in 2012!

Special Mention:  Bollywood starlet Bipasha Basu makes her English film debut scheduled for May 2012.
Yet to see if this will have a lasting impression on American audiences. 

BBA Special: South Asian Supermodels

Diversity in fashion hasn't come very far. Even in 2012, the international fashion industry is struggling to present diversity among shapes, sizes and colors on the main stage. However, over the past few decades there have been a handful of brown faces that have carved a niche, & opened the door for more South Asian models to reign. Here is a look at some of the women who have walked the international catwalk. Visit our Facebook page for daily posts & updates as we uncover new faces. We hope to see many more South Asian faces representing high-fashion in the near future!

Kirat Young, 70s. [YSL, Chanel, Valentino & more]

Gurmit Kaur, 80s/early 90s. [YSL, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy & more]

Yasmeen Ghauri, 90s. [Chanel, Versace, Hermes & more]

Padma Lakshmi, 90s. [Ralph Lauren, Cavalli, & more]

Lakshmi Menon, 2000's. [Hermes, H&M, Givenchy & more]

Monikangana Dutta, 2000's. [Vivienne Westwood, Dior, & more]

Ujjwala Raut, 2000s. [Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, & more]

Indian Fashion Arrives in NYC!

Located in the heart of Manhattan (and on the same block as the Hermes store), Soigne K is a rare treat for anyone in love with fashion. Selling only Indian designers in one of the most popular fashion destinations in the world, the store is modern and very hip - unlike your mother's favorite saree store. On a great NYC night, I ventured out for an evening organized by Tanari Events and was surprised to find a great mix of people with some AMAZING Indian sweets by Bittersweets &... designer fashion of course!

With the roomie Deepti (Left)

Dress by Malini Ramani

Manish Arora... *sigh* It's all in the details! 

The cake! By Bittersweet NYC

Bittersweet Cake Pops had me poppin'

The boutique is two levels of bliss