Question no 4 – This one from Lauria Meadoff

“How do the cultural clashes between the traditional Indian culture and the emergence of technology such as text messaging and internet dating effect romantic relationships in India?”

Thank you for your question Lauria. I think this question can describe the huge diversity that I feel is very India for me.
It’s a country I change as I am sure you are aver of. The lifestyle gap between how you live your life in the city and how you live your life in the villages is enormous. The technology your writing about is a big part of your life in the citys, and not a very big part of you life in the villages.
Its more or less the same whit religious believes – its more traditional and conservatives in the villages then in Mumbai.
Still, travelling around in the north parts of India it seems like everybody got a sell phone.
How this affects romantic relationships in India is very hard to say, thou there are no general troth.
Some people are very religious here, like in the rest of the world, and they are arranging weddings if that’s what they believe in.
Mumbai is a city whit lots of cultures and religions. Some are very traditional and some are living life more like a general Swede or Danich.

Timmar & åter timmar utan det tänkta resultatet- Att försöka göra business i en helt annan kontext”

Nu har jag varit här i Mumbai i ca två månader, 24 dagar kvar tills vi åter är hemma. Tiden hittills har verkligen varit en berg- och dalbanetur för mig. Det kanske var just det jag behövde? Jag väljer att tro att det var det jag behövde.

Hemma, där min trygghet är, är jag enormt resultatfokuserad. Det är enkelt att nå önskat resultat för jag känner till de sociala- och professionella koderna och kan kommunicera på ett helt annat sätt där. Här i Indien, en ekonomisk och kunskapsmässigt växande land, är allt helt annorlunda.

Till att börja med skulle jag tillsammans med tre andra från mitt team skriva en bok om ny konst här i Mumbai. På grund av privata skäl valde jag att inte fortsätta i den gruppen. Jag valde istället att fokusera på projekt jag tänkte jobba med på sidan av detta. Nu i efterhand kan jag se att det var bra att fokusera på färre saker då allt här tar så mycket mer tid än hemma och att försöka leda ett projet som blond, ung, kvinna från väst är en av dem största utmaningarna jag haft i hela mitt liv.

Det sidoprojektet jag valde att fokusera på, & med det lägga större delen av min tid på, var att designa och producera nya jackor till ledningsgruppen på Arvika Festivalens (www.arvikafestivalen.se). Jackorna skulle tillveras utan barnarbete och med rättvisemärkta tyger såklart.

På det första företaget, Gayatri, jag kom i kontakt med fungerade samarbetet enormt bra. Jag gick igenom designen, valde material och visade mönsterkonstruktionen för deras designteam. När sedan budgeten kom var det långt över vad jag hade att tillgå. Jag skulle absolut inte ge upp så naturligt sökte jag mig till ett billigare alternativ. Jag valde att gå direkt till en skräddare/skräddarstudio för att slippa alla mellanhänder och med det minska kostnaderan. Jag hittade en företagare som hade ett antal skräddare anställda som tackade ja till uppdraget. Jag började om med hela processen; gå igenom designen, valde material och visade mönsterkonstruktionen för hans skräddarteam. Vid denna tidpunkt hade vi på Kaospiloterna “semester” för att se mer av Indien, en vacka åkte jag iväg med löftet från min kontakt att när jag kom tillbaka skulle de första samlen (proven på de båda modellerna av jackorna) vara klara så att jag bara kunde skicka dem till min kund. Måndagen efter en vecka skulle jag infinna mig i ateljen för att själv leda arbetet med dem 30 jackorna som skulle göras, ett jobb som jag skulle lägga 10h på/ dag i några veckor. När jag kom till ateljen på måndag mötte min kontakt mig och förklarade att de fått in en större order – som innebar mer pengar- och hade valt att ta den istället. Jag disskuterade länge med min kontakt och försökte omförhandla, men utan framgång. Ordern han fått var på regnjackor, det är nämligen så att den 3 månader långa monsunen börjar i juni, tiden innan är alla skräddare upptagna med uppdrag som det här.

Ge upp skulle jag verkligen inte göra, jag letade & letade skräddare & fick nej på nej. Jag tog tillslut kontakt med en dam som heter Maya Shahani, som är chairperson på något som heter Sage Fondation (www.shahanigroup.com). Hon satte mig samman med en man som skulle hjälpa mig göra jackorna. Denna gång utarbetate jag ett fysiskt kontrakt då jag vägrade bli av med mer tid av löften & enligt mina västerlänska ögon oetniska sätt att göra business på. Kontraktets skrevs, designen presenterade jag, metrial hade skräddaren & mönsterkonstruktionen presenterade jag. Dagen, över en vecka efter att kontaktet togs/en veckas jobb, kontraktet skulle skrivas på berättade min kontaktperson hos Sage Fondation att min skräddare inte hade materialet trots löften, varpå jag erbjöd mig att själv åka & köpa det. Skräddaren ville bara sy med material han själv hade och vägrade med det att skriva på kontraktet.

Så med extremt lite tid kvar & enormt mkt tid & endel privata pengar investerade i projelktet stog jag återigen utan producent. Jag kommer inte hinna etablera en ny kontakt & återigen gå igeom hela processen under tiden jag är här & festivalen, som är fantastisk för övrigt ÅK DIT! YOULL LOVE IT!, närmar sig hinner jag helt enkelt inte.

Under hela denna processen att jobba med affärsMÄN i 45-55års åldern i denna åldern & vara en blond, ung tjej från västvärlden har varit enormt tufft & utvecklande. Alla har upprepade gånger försökt lura mig, både ekonomiskt & kvalitetsmässigt. Jag har verkligen fått argumentera, vara på min vakt & säga ifrån många många gånger. Nu inser jag att deras syn på mig, som ung kvinna från väst, har karaktiserat hela processen & det går upp för mig att skräddare två & tre har väntat på mutor. Dem tycker, som skräddare två sa, att jag som kommer från rika väst gott kan ge några tusen under bordet för att få jackorna gjorda.

Mutor går emot mig rent moraliskt, på det sättet vill inte jag göra affärer. Jag vill göra affärer med hjärta och hjärna & jag vill göra affärer med människor som respekterar mig och var jag kommer ifrån. Naivt kanske, men det tycker inte jag och det är vad jag siktar på i framtiden. Lärorikt har denna “resa” med jackorna varit, inte alls på det sättet jag väntat mig. Roligt har det dock inte varit.

Jag har inte dåligt samvete för att jag inte fick jackorna producerade, för jag vet att jag gjort mitt yttersta och lite till, men jag är besviken på att Arvika Festivalen inte får sina snygga & väldesignande/medvetna jackor och jag är besviken på att jag inte nådde just det resultatet då det hade varit en enorm möjlighet för min profession. Nu vet jag en hel massa om att vara ung, blond, kvinna från väst och göra business med indiska män, som är skräddare, i övre medelåldern istället.

“Question no 3 – This one from Ron Pompei”

“Will India be able to learn from the missteps of the West regarding ecology, energy and education?
Will they recognize earlier in their economic and social development that material resources are finite yet human resources (such as creativity, innovation and expression) are infinite?
Will India achieve a true global consciousness that recognizes the unique contribution of all cultures?”

First of all, I feel these questions are very philosophical and for that reason doesn’t have a right or wrong answer, a yes or no answer. I also feel that you could write a book about each question.
For me to be able to answer this question I had to choose a small part of my “picture” of first two questions to treat on my blog, and I chose a basic and value based part to treat.

“Will India be able to learn from the missteps of the West regarding ecology, energy and education?
My answer has to be yes. I’m convince that they already are learning, from all parts of the world, but I also believe the biggest learning comes from experience it or do it yourself.
So yes, as the world are getting more and more globalized we all learn from each other, that presuppose that we, no matter if you are from Europe, India, Africa or US, open or eyes and minds to reflect and learn “from the missteps of the West regarding ecology, energy and education”. What do you think? Do you got the answer?
India are a very diverse land, both economical and in religion believes. The rich are very rich and the poor very poor, the middle class however are rising in high speed both in knowledge and economical. India is also a country that is well known for the high quality of higher education.
Educated Indian is a big part of the ongoing debate of ecology/environment worldwide. However the gap between educated and uneducated in this country is huge. This is very natural because people here are still fighting to get there primary needs satisfied ever day.
So I think India have a really big challenge in providing education for all citizens of India, so we (India and the rest of the world) can educate India in environment questions.
Is education possible when a lot of citizens in this country are fighting to get their primary needs satisfied?

Will they recognize earlier in their economic and social development that material resources are finite yet human resources (such as creativity, innovation and expression) are infinite?
I think they in many aspects realize this. I must say I have a really hard time to answer this question, but I like it, it makes me, and a bit forces me, to seek for my answer and to make a stand.
However, I don’t like to generalize a hole nation like this. My answer are yes and no, safe, correct and incorrect.
I’m not really sure that human resources are infinite. Creativity innovation and expression is in one way infinite, but its dynamic, the meaning of it changes and develops as the world and humans develops. And if we, as an hole world, don’t change how we use or resources that are finite, I’m sure it wont be any more infinites. Or will it? What is finite? What is infinite?

Will India achieve a true global consciousness that recognizes the unique contribution of all cultures?
Maybe they already have?

Question no 2 – This one from Uffe Elbaek

“What are the living conditions for homosexuals in India. Socially, culturally and politically?”

The sours of this information I’ve got from the fashion designers I’m working whit here.

The situation for gay people in India is very different from what part to part of the country.
Mumbai has the reputation to be one of the most liberate state in this question, jet its miles away from Scandinavia both Socially, culturally and politically.
In Goa for example, its legal to get married as a homosexual couple. Here in Mumbai, like the biggest part of India its still illegal o get married.

In the political sector they don’t prioritise to discuss this situations, whiter or not to legalise homosexual marriage.
The situation is a bit more complex than that thou.
The lack of knowledge, compassion and the fear of development by the pupil in India is the biggest problem, the way I and the persons I’ve discussed this question whit see it.

In the culturally sector the situation is more human. Here homosexuality is something that are very tolerated comparing to other the two other sectors. Its noting unknown or freighting. It’s the way it suppose to be according to me, because love is beautiful in all forms!

Socially the living conditions are very challenging for homosexuals, in my easy even for heterosexual couples as well.
They don’t show love open in India the way we do in the west, no holding hands, no kissing, in public.

However, in my eyes, the situation for homosexuals are unfair and very challenging and without a discussion about it I think they have a long way to walk before they even could think about being a new and world leading state in the world, as they so hard try to be right now

Mumbai Fashion Week – front row & bubblegum mojitos!

a littel bit of Fashion Week in Mumbai-it was truley a lovely day. I had the best date, Siri from my team, and it was good to get inspired by all the beatiful & talented peopel in this kontext.

Fashion week Mumbai

My exertions so far it that’s it’s more easy to get in contact whit entrepreneurs and creators in Mumbai than in Sweden. It aren’t a lot of attitude here, its more a feeling that we all can help etch other if we are in the same industry. And I think that’s one reason of my invitation to Mumbai fashion week.
I have also found the perfect business partner to my label, Design by Issa! Yeajjj!

Gayatri is a successful and ambitious designer and entrepreneur (http://www.gayatrikhanna.com).
She is the founder of a company that produces the collections for Dior, Kenzo, Chloé, Ungaro, Givenchy, Anna Sui, Nicole Miller, Zac Posen and many more, and soon also Design by Issa!
So, how much I some days want to leave this city – it takes me forward!

From heart to fart!

Yesterday, the annual holiday Holi. We, Tobbe, David, Ellen & My went to the closest shantytown, just a skip away from were we live.

Here the people were selebrating like never before. We truley got swept away by the atmosphere – so much love, happiness, curiousity & compassion in one place i hevent feelt before. In things/money they are realy poor, but my excperience from this day are that they are have find a way to happiness whitout material things. I dont know how correct my interpretation is. So Im going to spend more time in this shantytown to get richer in knowledge and maybe to help Siri and Pelle whit there project of getting internet in to the slum!

They celebrate Holi in colours! As you can se from the pictures.

Anyway, leter Elin, Ellen, Sophie & me meet up whit a friend of sophies and his friend at this fancy fancy hotel, you know those who have small rolled towles at the marmor restroom and a pianist in the enormous lobby?! From this hotel, to a posh bar by the ocean and a Cosmopolitan & then to a very trendy club whit our own stall and Absolut Vodka. From this to the restaurant over the club wher we wined and dined allso very fancy.

So from dancing whit the kids in the slum to be driven home by Sophies friends private driver at the same day. And this is what Mombai is fore me-a huge gap between rich and poor, diversety in many aspects and something for all. I feel very “blessed” to be able to take part in all the different parts of this community, painful aware of that Im one of few.

 

“Worst or worst – you can´t grade hell!”

It´s so obvious how fast I/you get use to things, the heat, always people starring, stand up and pee, the strong smells, that evry thing takes tre times as much time as home, people try to make you but stuff, listen & give, whit the man that are polite to the boys and dont look at us girls, to wash your clothes by hand, whit the dirt, the polution, whit overpolite waiters at restaurants, whit the traffic, to get power just becouse your white not becous youve earnd it, whit covering your skin just to melt in and avoid the glance from men & to rarley get to know why even when you ask.

I dont feel bad or bitter over this things, thats just the way they are and if I want a change i make one!

Horn Ok Please!

Day 6. 20080317.

There is some something about something here. It all makes me laugh. It´s a thin line between sane and insane. And here is Mumbai. Im goig to share some of this things whit you-just for fun, and fun it is!

1. Horn Ok Please! Thats the text back of trucks.

2. “Dont park here. If you do we´ll flat your tires.” Thats honest, no?

3. To take a poo on the street never been this natural, or to walk around naked either! I havent “tagit seden dit jag kommer” yet.

4. It´s unleagal to be gay (not fair, smart or anything good). Yet its normal for boys to hoald hands whit friends, not for girls thoe. This is just so stupied!

5. To get blessed by a transvestite.

6. The ocean are beautiful, and so close. Very polluted thoe so you cant go for a swim. But still beatutiful!

7. This bar I found that plays Elvis Prestly, serves the best lemon ice tea and have wi-fi, so i can keep in contact whit the people that matters the moast. My family, anne, mette, marja, sara, moa, andreas, pata, matilda, radha.

And you know what, today me and Siri had a very good meeting whit a successful graphicdesigner and her sister is a fashion designer. So Im looking forward to a meeting whit here!

Dhavari – what´s slum for you?

Dhavari is the biggest shantytown in the world. Over 60% of the population in Mumbai lives there.
On my second day we took the train to this part of town, its located very close to the airport, just in the middle of Mumbai. So the land of which the slum are built on is very attractive for the government now when the infrastructure in Mumbai is getting better day by day.
Mumbai is breathing change and creativity. I never before experienced that people find so many different things to sell. Both tjänster and stuff.
I believe poverty somehow fours us to be more creative, because you need to find a way to pursued your life, to live.
After my day in the slum I revalue my predigest. First of all I change my picture of what a slum is. In Mumbai 85% of the people living in the slum got jobs. It´s over 10.000 small industries going on in the slum, the conditions are very bad in some of them, but the people seemed happy. I think the community, that every person got a important role in a bigger picture, increase their happiness index drastic.

Because of this expensive land the slum are located at there is a conflict between the government. & persons living in the slum. So some plans are made to build big houses in the slums. A privet person that buys land in the slum has to provide the bottom apartments to them who lived at the land where the house was built.
And all the slums created before 1995 are legal, they got electricity that they pay for and they got provided whit water once every day, They got few public toilettes that the are charing, so the sanitary is a big problem. It was here a saw this boy taking a poo on the street, being creative, no?
So a change is necessary in the slums, and everyone knows its going to happen in a few years, its only a matter of how?
I want to go back to the slums and talk to the citizens theire. I would like to ask them what happiness is for them, what the dream of, if they have any goals in life, and what they would bee in that case, if the feel that they are missing anything. Whit the ame to sow a broder picture of how different persons in this view life.
Maybe writing articles about this, sell them to Sweden and give the money to the schools in the slum, they got four.