India

Overview:

            India is the seventh largest country in the world and holds the second largest population.  Geographically located in southern Asia, India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal.  India has many famous sites including one of the seven wonders and important fashion highlights are located here.

           

Taj Mahal:

            The Taj Mahal is one of India’s main attractions and is known for being one of the seven ancient wonders.  The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum that was built by Shah Jahan.  Shah Jahan was an emperor and had the Taj Mahal built in memory of this third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.  This mausoleum was built in 1653 and is located in Agra, India.  Although the Taj Mahal is not connected to religion, many people consider it to be a very spiritual.  The architecture of the mausoleum combines Persian, Turkish, and Indian inspiration and is very beautiful.  Surrounding the Taj Mahal is a mosque, gardens, and a reflecting pool.  Once visitors enter the mausoleum, they are able to see the tombs of Shan Jahan and his wife.  The tombs are located beside one another and were designed to match the appearance of the Taj Mahal.  See the Taj Mahal at the best time by going for sunrise or sunset; these times are said to be a spiritual encounter.  The Taj Mahal has approximately 2-4 million visitors each year and is a must see when traveling to Agra. 

 

Agra Fort:

            Agra Fort is another important attraction located in Agra.  This fort is an ancient walled city that once housed royals.  There are three gates located within the fort, the Water Gate which was used by common people, the Elephant Gate which was used by the royals, and the Delhi Gate which was used by the military.  The fort is known as the Taj Mahal’s sister monument, and inside the walled city, visitors will find a courtyard, the Hall of Public Attendance, The Royal Pavilions, Mosques, gardens, and other beautiful buildings.  The Hall of Public Attendance is a pillared structure built by Shan Jahan in 1628.  The Royal Pavilions contains the mosques located inside the fort.  Many of the buildings inside are made from marble and the décor is similar to the Taj Mahal.  The fort is famously known for holding Shan Jahan until his dying day.  Imprisoned by his son, Shan Jahan died in a tower located inside the fort.  Although the fort is now partly empty, approximately sixty percent is occupied by the military today.  

Mix Nouveau Showroom:

            The Mix Nouveau Showroom is located outside Delhi.  Many activities take place at this showroom.  Inside the showroom sells reps meet with buyers and show off lines that the company represents.  The showroom has many prestigious customers, such as Neman Marcus and Nordstrom.  The buyers come to India to view the line and make purchasing decisions.  There is also a showroom located in New York City.  This company produces their own personal line, private designs for certain stores, and other popular designers, such as Imitation of the Christ.  

Dilli Haat:

            Dilli Haat is an open air bazaar located in Delhi.  There are many shops and vendors located inside Dilli Haat.  Here, one can find many of the popular items India is known for.  There is local food, scarves, shoes, souvenirs, rugs, jewelry, etc. inside this shopping area.  This is a great way to be exposed to the culture and understand India’s fashion.    

Cottage Emporium:

            Cottage Emporium is a shopping center located in Delhi.  The shopping center houses food venders and many fashion oriented retailers.  Here one can find interior decorating, food, and jewelry.  Many of the shops have stones, such as topaz, sapphire, diamond, ruby, amethyst etc. for sale at cheaper price points.  Customers also have the option to purchase stones that can be made into a piece of jewelry.  Festivals are commonly held in this center.  The festivals bring more food, music, fashion, and Indian goods to the area.  Indian culture can be identified by spending some time at the Cottage Emporium.

Factory:

The factory employs approximately 6,000 workers and 22 designers.  Inside there are sections that have been divided into specific tasks that must be completed for a particular brand.  Some of the more popular brands manufactured include: Old Navy, J Jill, Target, and H and M.  Although there is an enormous amount of projects being undertaken by many workers, the factory is impressively clean and organized.  The factory operates in a healthy environment, and the workers are treated fairly and well.  One of the factories most impressive features is the embroidery machines; this factory houses 24 embroidery machines.  These machines are particularly expensive and are capable of many intricate embroidery designs.  The factory also employs workers to hand embroider many clothing items.  The factory is a great place to see clothing at the manufacturing stage of production.