Just by chance and good luck (maybe the white rat working his magic!) we’ve found ourselves caught up in the Mumbai fashion scene – the photographers, art director, models, support crew all here to shoot a range of formal mainly menswear lines in the beautiful grounds of the haveli.

Stepping out of our suite this morning to greet the sun with our coffee, still in our jarmies and with crazy bed hair, here they all were right on the doorstep making the most of the early sunrise natural lighting!

Yesterday, having shown a very keen interest in what was going on, I was lucky to be given a glimpse ‘backstage’ of all the beautiful designer merchandise – intricately hand-stitched sarees, lehenga, anarkali and salwar kameez silks in deep rich burgundies, golds and navy blues. They were all finely embroidered with floral detailing in silver and gold thread, and sparkling, twinkling jewels and beads – a total collection worth tens of thousands of NZ dollars.

The menswear line is equally grand but a bit more pared back. A mix of high end traditional sherwani and kurta in bright shots of contemporary pinks, blues and greens, but the ones I loved the most were in mustards and tweeds to give a modern, western twist. The turbans with feathers and costume rubies added a whimsical avant garde sense to it all, and the handsomely slick beards and moustaches were exceptional too – and would give every die hard Cuba Street kiwi hipster a run for his money! Jitty fitted right in!

Today we’re off to Samode Palace, which is about two hours away from Mandawa. We studied up on the layout and history of the palace in the library with Simmonds last night, and it looks like we’re in for more jaw-droppingly outrageously beautiful luxury and design. Stay tuned!