The Famous Indian fashion designer Bina Ramani is retiring after 30 years in fashion. The socialite-businesswoman, who who was the first Indian designer to be featured on the cover of the Vogue, has now found her place in Goa and is leaving Delhi.
"There is just a perfect spot that I have found,” the priestess of Indian fashion told Hindustan Times.
“It's very idyllic and I'm going to sit there, look at the backwaters and find my peace. I'll always be doing a bit of jewellery design. But my fashion journey is over."
The news came at the bohemian “farewell” party Bina Ramani made herself, to say goodbye to fashion and Delhi. Some famous friends such as Dolly Thakore, socialite Ambika Shukla, Nafisa Ali and actor Lilette Dubey were present at the party. Her brother from London Partap Lalwani together with his wife and her daughter Malini were there.
“I have been so busy these 30 years that I would feel there weren’t enough hours each day. But these were things I really enjoyed,’’ said Bina.
The woman who started the AIDS awareness campaign in India in 1994 together with Richard Gere, and who is known as the first lady of parties in India, has ended her role as a seller of clothes, jewellery and accessories by her own design.
Ramani shot to fame after she turned an old villa in Mehraul into her famous boutique called Once Upon A Time. After that she discovered a 13th century mansion in Hauz Khas where she made her second boutique Twice Upon A Time.
Now she found a peaceful place for her retirement in Goa, saying: ‘‘I want to rest my soul. Do a little bit of writing, listen to classical music, do a bit of jewellery designing—things I wanted to do, and didn’t have the time for. Also, my younger daughter Geetu, who lives in London, is expecting a baby, so I’m eagerly waiting for that.’’