Destination by Design: India’s hidden gems, from a Himalayan village to Goa’s remote beaches, inspire Lovebirds founders Gursi Singh and Amrita Khanna
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next travel destination, there is an unlikely source you’ve probably not even thought about fashion designers. It makes sense, designers are always on the lookout for inspiration for their next collection and adventures are full of opportunities that spark inspiration. In fact, many designer brands have been built on their founders’ insatiable wanderlust or the love they have for the place they call home. From the most secluded coves in Turkey to the most untouched beaches in Thailand, fashion designers have been inspired by some of the world’s most beautiful locations.
In this series, globe-trotting designers spill their best-kept travel secrets to Tatler and tell us how these destinations have formed the basis of their collections. In this part, we talk to Gursi Singh and Amrita Khanna, the founders and creative minds behind the beloved Indian label Lovebirds, about how they translate their country’s architecture onto punchy prints and stylish silhouettes.
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Since launching Lovebirds in 2016, Singh and Khanna have caught the attention of several fashion funds, earning runner-up at the Vogue India Fashion Fund in 2018 and becoming one of the Vogue Italia Next Talents of 2017. The brand celebrates its Indian heritage through its collections, from sourcing 90 per cent of materials locally to using traditional fabrics and techniques. Lovebirds’ graphic prints and artful tailoring have garnered international renown, and its stunning fashion show at Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur this March even went viral. It’s clear that beyond fashion, the Lovebirds founders also have a knack for finding beautiful locations.
In an email interview with Tatler, Singh reveals his country’s best-kept travel secrets, their bucket list travel destinations and more.
Founders of Lovebirds Studio, Amrita Khanna (right) and Gursi Singh (left) (Photo: Lovebirds Studio)
What are some of your favourite places to holiday in India? Fozal Valley in Himachal Pradesh is an underrated place which we love. We also recently visited Sundarkhal in Uttarakhand. The topography and the people are a joy to be with. We find ourselves going there from time to time to enjoy the slow pace of life. We also love to go to the south of Goa—Honnebail beach near Ankola is a very pristine place away from the crowds. If you go up north of Goa you’ll find Ganpatipule, which is in Maharashtra, with very pretty villages and lush greenery and the ocean surrounding you. The Konkan belt [southwest coast of India] is known for such sights and is a must-visit.
Can you share a memorable story from one of those trips?We loved waking up early to catch the sunrise, drinking local chai in tea stalls, picking flowers and trekking in the misty mountains. For one of our younger ones’ birthday, we called all the kids from the village and had a party. Our go-to places within the country are from Uttaranchal and Himachal in the north to the Konkan Coast in the south.
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Lovebirds’ autumn-winter 2024 collection (Photo: Lovebirds)
Lovebirds’ autumn-winter 2024 collection (Photo: Lovebirds)
When is the best time to go?Delhi is atrocious in the summer so it’s a good time to leave the city. Make sure you take your favourite books and maybe your canvas and paint, there’s so much to be inspired by. We usually go down south in the winter and up north in summer.
Pro tip? Go to the non-touristy places to really understand the different cultures, crafts, and cuisines, and immerse yourself in them.
What are some unmissable things to do and see and eat?Amrita and I love Ankola, a village in South Goa away from the touristy places—it’s really calm and one can connect with nature. We’re particularly fond of Honnebail Beach with its pristine view and the seclusion it allows us. It’s an unparalleled luxury to pick from the farm and eat from the trees. We love indulging in Carnatic food [a kind of South Indian cuisine] with its appams, idlis and especially the coconut chutneys.
How have these places inspired you?Most of our creative efforts and concepts come to fruition from being able to rest, go out, get inspired, and be immersed in one’s thoughts. The main takeaway from our travels is to be one with nature, get to see new cultures and how people live them and see how they thrive. Since we have two girls, we need to take them out from time to time away from the city and let them experience the slow life where they can connect with nature, with themselves and with each other.
Lovebirds’ pre-fall 2024 collection (Photo: Lovebirds)
Lovebirds’ pre-fall 2024 collection (Photo: Lovebirds)
How have some of these places inspired Lovebirds’ recent collections? If you see any of our collections, you’ll see motifs of flowers and leaves, bursting forth into colours that evoke nature’s effervescence. You’ll see patterns and cuts that are deeply inspired by nature. The simplicity and rawness of these places have inspired our design language. Getting to travel across the country means our language and our travels have inspired our creation process and our approach to going truly local when we go to the source and support small clusters of artisanal villages.
If you could only pack a carry-on to these places, what would you bring?A few clothing essentials, a book, and a notepad! You don’t need much to unwind; you just need key essentials that fuel your creativity. Maybe a good playlist will also do.
What’s one place you’re going to this year that you’ve never been before? We’re going to a village called Kibber in Spiti Valley soon with the girls, it’s one of the highest villages in India if not the world. We also have a trip to Italy in Sardinia planned on our travel list this year.
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