Waris Ahluwalia | American Turban

Poster of Waris Ahluwalia, via @naunihalpublic.

Your weekend Waris, Part VI

November 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Over the last several days, many shoppers around North America were surprised to find Waris Ahluwalia (the “modern-day Marco Polo“) staring them in the face at the mall, in flyers, and in magazine ads this week. The Sikh American actor/designer/model is apparently being featured in clothing retailer Gap‘s current national marketing campaign: It’s a safe assumption that Gap has not entered the retail market for turbans, but it might be interesting to walk into your nearest Gap store, point to […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Gap, Waris Ahluwalia

Your weekend Waris, Part V

October 4, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Besides mentioning Waris Ahluwalia, Soraya Roberts assesses the emergence and use of the Sikh turban in fashion, and the motivation for Sikh designers to incorporate the Sikh article of faith in their portfolio: “Having introduced turbans on the runway and having had such good press so far, I believe I have brought a little more awareness to this religion,” [designer Jeetinder Sandhu] tells The Daily Beast. “I believe people need to be more aware of Sikhism, because it’s a religion […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Dastar, Fashion, Jeetinder Sandhu, Singh Street Style, Turban, Waris Ahluwalia

Scene from Inside Man (2006). (Source: YouTube)

Your weekend Waris, Part IV

September 13, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This week, a movie scene featuring Waris Ahluwalia from the film Inside Man (2006) is used to open a news story on radio station WNYC, New York’s National Public Radio affiliate. The narrator, Arun Venugopal, highlights aspects about Sikh American history and experience, touching on the history of 1984, race relations between African Americans and Sikhs since 9/11, and of dastar bandi, the Sikh turban-tying ceremony: …we examine the age-old persecution of Sikhs, from India to post-9/11 America. Why do […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights • Tags: Arun Venugopal, dastaar bandhi, dastar bandi, Inside Man, Naunihal Singh, New York, Saihajdeep Singh, Waris Ahluwalia, WNYC

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Waris Ahluwalia appears in an article in Vogue Italy's July-August edition. (Source: Vogue Italy)

Your long weekend Waris, part III

August 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As only he can, noted designer/actor Waris Ahluwalia appears on the cover of the July-August 2013 Italian version of Vogue Magazine, which also includes a pictorial of Waris in various forms of dandy. Here’s to a relaxing long weekend. (See previous posts about Waris Ahluwalia here.)

Categories: Literature, Profiles • Tags: Fashion, Italy, Vogue Magazine, Waris Ahluwalia

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"Waris Ahluwalia, 2011. Photo by Norman Jean Roy." (Source: Flavorwire)

Your weekend Waris, part II

May 31, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Another weekend is upon us, and New York actor/designer Waris Ahluwalia presents himself (via @Kaurista) just in time: Through Sunday, August 18, 2013, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence, Rhode Island, is hosting a photo exhibition about the “dandy” fashion trend called Artist/Rebel/Dandy, which features Waris Ahluwalia: Rather than following strict definitions, Artist/Rebel/Dandy features myriad manifestations of the dandy’s style and persona, from the discreet sophistication and consummate elegance of Beau Brummell (1778–1840) to the romantics and […]

Categories: Art, Events, Profiles • Tags: Artist/Rebel/Dandy, Fashion, Providence, Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Waris Ahluwalia

New York fashion designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia in "Waris Ahluwalia's Long Road." (source: YouTube)

Your weekend Waris

May 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A bit of New York designer/actor Waris Ahluwalia for your weekend. Go explore. (See previous posts about Waris Ahluwalia here.)

Categories: Profiles, TV/Movies • Tags: ASMALLWORLD, House of Waris, Waris Ahluwalia

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Gunpreet Rekhi's turban collection (source: The Fine Young Gentleman)

Turbans as fashion

December 6, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On the style blog The Fine Young Gentleman, Gunpreet Rekhi discusses how he expresses his fashion sense with his turban: With every passing year, my collection has grown larger and larger (see photo above). I’ve acquired somewhat of a reputation for matching my turban to my outfit. More often than not, the matching will be obvious. Sometimes, I’ll have more fun with it and match the turban colour to a more discreet pattern (e.g. polka dots) or item (e.g. a […]

Categories: Style • Tags: Fashion, Gagan Singh, Gunpreet Rekhi, Jean Paul Gaultier, The Fine Young Gentleman, Turban, Waris Ahluwalia

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Gurmeet Sodhi (left) interviews Dr. I.J. Singh (right) on stage at the SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival.

Thoughts on the SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival

November 30, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Two weeks ago, I attended the third annual SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival in Orange, California (held during November 16 to 18). It was my first time attending this event, and I enjoyed the showcase of artistic talent presented. Newspapers India Journal and India-West provide thorough summations of the festivities from the opening night gala to the closing showcase concert and the scholarship projects behind the films (in collaboration with Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts), […]

Categories: Art, Events, TV/Movies • Tags: Bicky Singh, California, Dr. I.J. Singh, Orange, SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival, Singh Twins, Waris Ahluwalia

Turban fashion or faux pas?

July 3, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

When I ask him if it’s limiting his swag, he objects: “Darling, a turban goes with everything. It’s an important part of me – yet it doesn’t restrict or limit me or even enhance. It’s a reminder of the values my family and religion taught me. It inherently doesn’t make me more religious or spiritual – it’s just fabric.” — Natalie Joos, on the blog Tales of Endearment, writes a feature on New York’s Waris Ahluwalia, in which he comments on […]

Categories: Style • Tags: Jean Paul Gaultier, Natalie Joos, Sikh-face, Turban, Waris Ahluwalia

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American Turban

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Waris Ahluwalia

Your weekend Waris, Part VI

Your weekend Waris, Part V

Your weekend Waris, Part IV

Your long weekend Waris, part III

Your weekend Waris, part II

Your weekend Waris

Turbans as fashion

Thoughts on the SikhLens Sikh Arts and Film Festival

Turban fashion or faux pas?