Rich Kid's Playground

INDIAN fashion seems to be a business for, of and by the rich. Delhi-based designers Rohit Bal, Rana Dhaka, Rina Dhaka, Geetanjali Kashyap, J.J. Vallaya come from rich exporter families. Designer R.S. Rathore belongs to the Jodhpur royal family, owners of a heritage hotel, priceless heirlooms. Bombay designers Tarun Tahiliani and Shahab Durazi come from wealthy stock: Tahiliani’s family has thriving business interests apart from huge real estate holdings in Bombay while Durazi’s family has a seafood export business that pays for the bread, butter AND jam. Varma, Ravi Bajaj and Rajesh Pratap Singh seem to be among the few that depend on fashion alone to survive.