Waris Ahluwalia

Waris Ahluwalia
Born 1974 (age 41–42)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Nationality Indian, American
Occupation Designer, actor
Years active 2004–present
Website houseofwaris.com

Waris Ahluwalia (born 1974) is an Indian American designer and actor based in New York City. His company, House of Waris, has collaborated with a number of other designers and artists throughout the years.[1] House of Waris came into being after the owners of Maxfield's in Los Angeles noticed Ahluwalia's elaborate diamond rings and placed an order, which sold out.[2]

Early life

Ahluwalia was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India, and moved to New York at the age of five, where he still lives.[3]

Career

Designer

House of Waris, founded by Ahluwalia, is strongly influenced by the romance and history of ancient kingdoms.[4]

Ahluwalia, who is now based in New York City, travels frequently to Rome and Rajasthan, working with craftsmen in each city, from goldsmiths to diamond setters who once made the crests for royal families.[5] He was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist in 2009, and in 2010 he was inducted as an official member of the CFDA.[6] The same year, Ahluwalia was placed on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List, anointed British GQ's second best dressed man internationally and included in Vogue's 10 Most Impactful people list.[7][8][9] He also pens the column 'Love & Waris' on Style.com.[10]

In October 2010, House of Waris opened a pop up tea room under the High Line.[11] The pavilion of the pop up space housed apparel and accessories from designers like Rodarte, A.P.C., book publisher Assouline and jewelry by Ahluwalia himself. The garden area served tea from the Himalayas and food from NYC restaurants like Café Cluny and Bar Pitti.[12]

In February 2011, Ahluwalia held his first New York Fashion Week presentation at the Museum of Arts & Design, launching a line of scarves made in India: block printed, hand dyed, silk screened, made of the finest cashmere and silks.[13]

Collaborations/special projects

Using House of Waris as a platform for collaborations, Waris has worked with A.P.C., Forevermark of the De Beers Group of Companies, and Tilda Swinton for Pringle of Scotland.[14][15][16] Ahluwalia has also collaborated with Benjami Cho, yoox.com, Lookmatic, the Webster Miami, Colette in Paris, Elliott Puckette for NewbarK, and the World Gold Council.[17][18][19]

In response to the attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, Ahluwalia, along with Mortimer Singer and Tina Bhojwani, created To India, with Love, a book aiming to raise funds, spirits, and awareness for the victims of the attacks.[20] All of the proceeds went directly to Taj Public Service Welfare Trust in conjunction with Mumbai: We Got Your Back! (WGYB!), an organization founded by the three editors.[21][22]

In 2012, Ahluwalia contributed to the summer issue of The Paris Review, writing an essay on art featuring the work of Walton Ford and Ryan McGinley.[23] Ahluwalia also collaborated with the world-renowned restaurant from New Delhi, BUKHARA.[24] The restaurant opened an exclusive pop up in London at the Sheraton Park Tower in which Ahluwalia served as Creative Director.[25] The pop up ran for two weeks and donated a portion of the proceeds obtained to support the Elephant Family non-profit organization.[26]

As a part of his role as Global Ambassador for Starwood's Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, Ahluwalia wrote and produced the original short film, "HERE: a Film" by Luca Guadagnino. The film's team included Tilda Swinton (co-writer), Heidi Bivens (stylist), Jason Schwartzman (music) and Agyness Deyn (actress).[27][28]

In 2013, House of Waris launched a line for Valentine's Day, called 'Boo', referring to it as a term of endearment. To promote the line, Ahluwalia commissioned 9 artists and filmmakers to make short films titled "You're my Boo." The list of artists included Phillip Andelman, Casey Neistat, Brett Stabler, Ben Watts, and Hailey Gates; as well as John Forté, Mick Rock, Matthew Frost.[29][30]

Ahluwalia has also collaborated with Illesteva Eyewear on a line of sunglasses that launched April 2013.[31] The sunglasses are made in France and are available in four colors.[32]

In 2013, Ahluwalia was featured in a Gap "Make Love" campaign ad that received attention from consumers and the media alike.

Actor

Ahluwalia's first film was The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) by Wes Anderson, as Vikram Ray, with a cast that included Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, and Cate Blanchett.[33] He played a short role in Wes Anderson's critically acclaimed The Grand Budapest Hotel. His film Beeba Boys, directed by Deepa Mehta and starring Randeep Hooda, was released on October 16, 2015.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America Brown Natasha Lyonne's friend
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Vikram Ray
2005 The F Word Republican Fundraiser
2006 Inside Man Vikram Walia
2007 High Falls Bud Short film
The Darjeeling Limited The Chief Steward
Hotel Chevalier Security Short film
Henry the Otter Store Clerk 1
2009 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead Hugo Pepper
2010 I Am Love Shai Kubelkian
2012 Missed Connections Pradeep
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Dino
2015 Beeba Boys Manny

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Unusuals Customer Episode: "Pilot"
2013 The Carrie Diaries The Sikh Episodes: "Pilot"
"The Great Unknown"

In February 2016, Ahluwalia stated he was barred from boarding an Aeroméxico flight secondary to his turban and that therefore he was delayed from flying home to attend New York Fashion Week. He called for education and cultural sensitivity at the Mexico City International Airport with regard to Sikh and other religious headwear.[34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "House of Waris". Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Interview, SicChic (2007).
  3. ↑ Pfeiffer, Alice (20 March 2011). "Traditional Jewelry Turned on Its Head". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Waris Ahluwalia". Hall London. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "CFDA Member | Waris Ahluwalia". Council of Fashion Designers of America. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Waris Ahluwalia". Showstudio. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Little, Jaclyn. "A Year in the Best Dressed Life of Waris Ahluwalia". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Best Dressed International Men". British GQ. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Impact List of 2010". Vogue. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Love and Waris". Style.com. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Nerenberg, Jenara. "Wes Anderson's Pal Waris Ahluwalia Pops Tea Room Under NYC Highline". Fast Company. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Green, Grace (6 October 2010). "House of Waris Opens Pop-Up Tea Shop". Huffington post. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Whitworth, Melissa (11 February 2011). "Waris Ahluwalia: jewellery designer, style icon and Hollywood actor". London: Fashion Telegraph. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "HOUSE of WARIS for Forevermark". Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Holgate, Mark. "House of Waris and Tilda Swinton Work Together on a Pringle of Scotland Project".
  16. ↑ "House of Waris Collaborations". Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  17. ↑ Parr, Christopher. "Waris Ahluwalia's House of Waris". The Pursuitist.
  18. ↑ Whitworth, Melissa (11 February 2011). "Waris Ahluwalia: jewellery designer, style icon and Hollywood actor". London: Fashion Telegraph.
  19. ↑ Sowray, Bibby (2 May 2013). "Moda Operandi unveil exclusive Punk collection". London: Fashion Telegraph. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "To India with Love". Amazon. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "To India with Love". Assouline. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  22. ↑ Grieve, Cayte. "Society Says: Mumbai, We Got Your Back". BlackBook Mag. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  23. ↑ Wunsch, Noah. "Watch: Issue 201 in Action!". The Paris Review. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "BUKHARA Pop Up Restaurant in London". Cherie City. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts and ITC Hotels Bring BUKHARA, India's Most Coveted Culinary Experience, to London for Two Weeks". Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  26. ↑ "Indian high cuisine restaurant Bukhara pops up in London for just two weeks". Eastwind. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  27. ↑ Mau, Dhani. "Watch: Agyness Deyn Plays a Hitchcock Heroine in Waris Ahluwalia's New Short Film". Fashionista. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts Premieres 'HERE', an Original Short Film Capturing an Unexpected Journey Across America". Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "Hey Boo, Love Your New House of Waris Necklace". The Standard. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "House of Waris channel". Youtube. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  31. ↑ Hartman, Eviana (2 April 2013). "Shades On | House of Waris and Illesteva". T Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Don't Look Us in the Eye". Zoe Report. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Waris Ahluwalia". IMDB. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  34. ↑ Darius Johnson and Catherine E. Shoichet (February 8, 2016). "Sikh actor Waris Ahluwalia: Aeromexico kicked me off flight for wearing turban". CNN. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
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