This interview with Neha Gandhi Binjrajka is different from all our chats with the polite stylist and designer we’ve known for close to a decade, just like her latest collection ‘Sunshine’ from her label NGB which she launched three years back. If every collection has the designer’s sweat and blood, this has a part of Neha’s soul like no other, imbued with emotions that are deeply personal and talk of resilience, yet universal. Neha celebrates the unveiling with a bunch of close friends and family on Desire by The Barge Company with Howrah Bridge as the backdrop and tells t2 what makes ‘Sunshine’ a memorable collection.
This is a special collection....
The name ‘Sunshine’ is a pun on the word ‘son’ too. This is my first collection after I had a baby last year. Postpartum hit me really badly in the two months following my delivery. After that to pull myself out of it and tell myself that I can do it again, that I can shine again and go to work, was a task. So, this collection is an ode to that. I wanted to put together an all-white collection. After the storm, it was the colour of calm and peace. Working on different silhouettes in white was a calming process for me. The tag line is ‘It’s time to be the light’ because it’s time for me to return to what I love.
Everyone who is part of the shoot are all strong and successful women and have been my encouragement to come back to work. It is a ‘thank you’ to them as well. This is something so close to my heart. More than anything else, I want people to have a good time.
How did you combat your postpartum blues, a topic we don’t seem to talk about much?
It was tough. Postpartum makes you feel you are incompetent, good for nothing and that you are not being a good wife, mother, daughter-in-law, daughter and friend. I don’t know if everyone who met me could see it, but some people did. My family, my in-laws and Akash (husband) pulled me out of this. Close friends reached out to me every day to check on me. I could have fallen way deeper into it, but to be able to come out of it, I have to really thank my family and friends.
My in-laws, my mother and maami encouraged me to go back to work immediately. They all pitched in to help with my son. There’s no stopping, they said. Akash constantly pushed me to go in to work for at least two hours. Today I am in a much better place. I won’t say I am handling everything like a boss, but I am taking baby steps and I know I will be successful.
So, motherhood has been a mixed journey till now...
(Laughs) It was a mixed journey to start with, but now, I love it. I am trying to take in the positives and enjoy being a mother. There is no better feeling. That little human needs you so much. It’s motivating. Anything new in your life will come with challenges. What if I am doing something wrong? But then I told myself, we’ll figure it out.
What are the various whites?
There is a white for everyone. A lot of people want to wear whites and ivories for brunches because it looks so classy. Suddenly, it seems whites have made a comeback. All the whites you see are different from each other because it reflects their individual styles. The outfits fit like a glove. The stylist in me will never leave! I want to make sure everyone who comes in is able to pick a white outfit for themselves. I want everyone to relate to it on a personal level.
It’s mostly pearl white, like how pearls come out of oysters. There’s also baby powder white. And of course, the original white.
The location was a winner...
I was talking about this collection to my friends Rishika and Piyush. Rishika immediately said it would look fabulous on the barge. It was just right. Though it rained in the morning, it suddenly cleared up. We feel so blessed. The pictures are being shot against Howrah Bridge and it is a beautiful day.
What is your headspace right now?
I am driven and motivated, especially to leave a legacy behind for my son.
(L-R): Sneha Ganeriwala, Rishika Das Roy, Shabba Hakim, Laura Duque, Harshita Sultania, Niyati Bansal, in NGB’s Sunshine
I want Samarth, when he grows up tomorrow to say that ‘my mother is a successful fashion designer’. I am getting into aggressive marketing and have a fabulous social media team behind me. The tagline symbolises my headspace right now. It’s the time to shine.
What would be your tips for all new moms?
The first thing to remember, we’ve got your back. Any mother will understand what you are trying to say. Knowing that you are not alone is important. Even when I first stepped out, I didn’t know how to interact with people, it was as if I had forgotten how to talk and what do I even talk about. Know that everyone is going through it and each journey is different. The idea is to not stop trying. Don’t forget you. Obviously, things will be different and you have chosen it, but find your happiness, do things that make you happy and go for it. Don’t listen to anyone because people will have a lot of advice for you. Always remember, what you’ll do will be best for you and your child.
Location: Desire, The Barge
Company Call: 9830920071
Log on to: www.thebargecompany.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/thebargecompany?igshid= YmMyMTA2M2Y=
(L-R): Varsha Goenka, Somya Arya, Vinita Punwani, Akansha Binjrajka, Kritika Bagaria, Ekta Binjrajka, in NGB’s Sunshine
Akansha Binjrajka’s Mexi-to-Go plated up bite-sized delights. The menu had Mixed Sushi Platter, Beetroot Hummus with Nacho Chips, Mini Quesadillas and dips.
(L-R) Piyush Singhee, Rishika Das Roy, Neha and Akash Binjrajka. “With The Barge Company we want to help the city curate memorable experiences on the river. We would love to have everyone enjoy something that makes Calcutta, so unique. When Neha mentioned she wanted to host an intimate brunch with a bunch of powerhouse women, we just knew we had to help host it on one of our barges, Desire. We look forward to hosting many such amazing events over the summer!” said Piyush Singhee, co-founder, The Barge Company. Akash was one proud husband. “Neha has an innate ability to multitask and all she needed was a little push to get back to her passion. Watching her flourish professionally while also balancing motherhood has been a true inspiration,” he smiled.