JOIN USAfter bringing together photography and psychology in their previous endeavour in a published research paper ‘Stupid Eye’ in 2012 on therapeutic imagery, photographer/designer Vipul Amar and psychologist Harsheen K Arora decided to amalgamate their creative sides into a bespoke luxury brand — ‘The V Renaissance’ (TVR) in 2013.
Initially started as a bespoke on canvas and silk, it went on to be a full-fledged couture studio specialising in leather garments like jackets, skirts, bikinis to leather accessories including helmets, phone covers, wallets and even furniture. “Because psychology is to understand human behaviour, once you translate who you really are into a product, it’s you for the rest of your life. In Stupid Eye, we concentrated on taking one photograph that captures a person’s true personality. So, like a mirror, the idea is to remind who you are. Later in TVR, instead of the therapeutic angle, we decided to add theluxury element,” explains 29-year-old Arora.
Through having sessions, detailed discussions and understanding what the person is looking for, the brand customises the imported Italian leather within a period of one to one-and-a-half months. Recalling his love affair with leather been started because of his grandfather’s bomber jacket, Amar says, “My inspiration for leather comes from my grandfather who had a bomber’s jacket which was gifted to him by the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia. When I was in class 12, I took it with me on my journey to Vaishno Devi. That jacket would have been 35 years old by then but the aura remained because leather in itself is very exquisite. For me, leather happened then.”
The 39-year-old adds, “Whenever I make the design, I think what will make someone feel good. It’s representing a patron’s identity in a story line — on something that can be seen and felt outside of themselves. Each piece can never be copied or duplicated and is exclusive.”
Other than personalised products, the brand also offers a selected variety of their own collections of various artwork and merchandise including the creation of photographs over time, through travel and concept shoots incorporating natural elements like fire,
water and ice — for which they have been awarded the International Photography
Award 2012.
Exhibiting their latest collection at leather couture fashion show VROOMss in association with Indian Motorcycle Company’s new bikes including the latest variant of Indian Scout motorcycle which were on display at Select City Walk recently, the duo announced themselves as the luxury partner of multi-brand automobile showcase Auto Circuit. “Biking and leather, both are considered the epitome of luxury and that is how this concept of combining them together came about,” elucidates Amar.