At Mumbai’s J.W. Marriott on Saturday evening

Paris Hilton shares her India experience with t2 in an e-mail chat…

How did it feel to be in India?

I have heard so much about India and I am touched to see so many fans who have shown me their love. I love my fans across the world but this feels special.

What are some of the places you wanted to visit but couldn’t?

I would have liked to visit Delhi if possible and I always wanted to see the Taj Mahal. India is a beautiful country and I love it.

How long have you been planning a collection for India? Can you share with us some design highlights of your handbags and accessories?

I have been travelling around the world, interacting with my fans and seeing many different cultures. I have recently been to Dubai and the Philippines to launch my collection. I had been planning a trip to India since 2007 and what better time to come than the launch of my collection?

I was very inspired by old Hollywood glamour as well as new celebrities. For fall, I wanted a very luxurious and eye-catching collection. So we used sequins, reflective materials and mixed it with faux fur, patent and faux ostrich and crocodile. For the toned down, everyday styles, I chose shiny hardware and appliques. I love it so much. I thank Brand Concepts, my partner company in India, for bringing me down.

Are there any Indian design elements?

No, not yet, but I will continue to design and I will definitely take back some ideas from here and incorporate them in my designs.

What’s your favourite piece from the collection?

The Forever (bag)! I love it so much, I redesign it every season.

What designs, according to you, will work best for the Indian market?

I love fashion and I believe accessories are very important for creating any look. I wanted to design affordable handbags with a high sense of style and glamour for all my fans here.

We’ve heard you love Indian embroidery. What else do you love about Indian fashion?

I love the sparkle and gold.

Is India a part of your wardrobe?

I love Indian clothes, especially Rocky S designs (who styled her for her India trip). So, yes, I did try some Indian clothes.

You have designed everything from watches and bags to clothes to sunglasses. But what is closest to your heart?

I love bags that you can transform and wear for many occasions. I always try to design handbags that can be dressed up or down, depending on what you want.

What inspires you?

My everyday life, my travels, pets, friends and family. For my upcoming fall-winter collection, I was very inspired by Hollywood. A lot of it is glam but I also wanted to create pieces for everyday activities like shopping or hanging out with friends.

What makes a person fashionable?

Being always glamorous and sexy makes a person stylish.

THE MAN WHO BAGGED BRAND PARIS

“In the ladies handbag section, after establishing Rocky S in the premium segment, I was looking at taking on something for the super premium segment. You have brands like Hidesign, Tommy Hilfiger and Rocky S in the Rs 3,000-4,000 bracket, after which you straightaway go to the luxury segment which is your Burberrys, Pradas and Guccis and Bottega Venetas, that start around Rs 15,000. Between these two segments, there is a huge void. That’s where I came across Paris Hilton. I saw the product range (handbags, accessories, fragrances, sunglasses and watches) and met the people behind it. The recall of Paris was great. She is a phenomenon by herself.

We are available across eight outlets now in Bombay, Delhi, Lucknow and Bangalore. We will be starting with a shop-in-shop in Calcutta in Shoppers Stop in the beginning of October.”

—  Abhinav Kumar, CEO, Brand Concepts, the exclusive licensee for Paris Hilton handbags and accessories in India

In Mumbai to launch her line of handbags and accessories, the hotel heiress — with acting, singing, modelling and frequent foot-in-the-mouth credits to her name — had the paparazzi and fans on overdrive, hopping from store launches to midnight parties.

HER LAUNCH

Paris Hilton with Queenie Dhody at the bash in her honour on Saturday night

Though two hours too late for the launch on Saturday afternoon, the 30-year-old made sure that she posed and preened long enough to appease the waiting crowd. Paris looked pretty in pink. The launch venue — the J.W. Marriott — done up in pink with pink cupcakes, pink lollipops and a giant pink cake in the shape of a Hilton handbag — gave Paris stiff competition.

HER PARTY

With Shah Rukh Khan — who had earlier hosted Gerard Butler and Hugh Jackman — fighting shy of throwing open the doors of Mannat to Paris, it fell on jewellery designer Queenie Dhody to play hostess. On her part, Paris showed why she is everyone’s favourite party girl. On the floor for four straight hours, she posed for photographs, grooved to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s Senorita and even stepped into the DJ console to spin out some David Guetta tracks. Most of Bollywood, however, chose to give the meet-and-greet a miss. Only Sushmita Sen, Bipasha Basu and Kangana Ranaut turned up.

HER LOOK

High on style, low on oomph. Paris landed in the early hours of Saturday in a powder-blue jumpsuit and bling on the forehead and neck. She later rocked the party in a sensual (but far from sexy) shimmery Rocky S number while her most busy yet boring look was the turquoise animal print dress with rope detailing that she wore to her store opening. The best? The pinkish-red Grecian drape dress, styled like a sari, that the style icon sported at the launch.

HER TALK

For anyone looking to track Paris on her India trail, Twitter was the best bet. Launch to lunch, party to traffic signal, Paris’s Twitter-happy fingers gave a minute-by-minute lowdown of her India trip. From “Wow! Thousands and thousands of people here at Inorbit Mall for my @PHpurse Launch! Love my fans in #India! :)” to “Wow! Such a long day! Been in a press conference, interviews, photo shoots, a design meeting and now getting ready for my party.”

HER CLICHES

From “The women in India are so exotic and gorgeous” to “India rocks! So thrilled to be here. Love everyone in India so much. So happy I came here”, it was a cliche-a-minute. Talk was matched by action — Paris stocked up on saris, bindis and Indian jewellery.

HER HIGH POINT

Paris handed over $100 to a beggar at a Mumbai crossing. The tweet that followed? “#India is beautiful, but some parts are very poverty stricken. Broke my heart to see babies sleeping on the streets :(”