Raja Rani is the brainchild of partners BEATRICE and NAVEEN, who blend their love for eco-friendly fashion and boundary-pushing music into this amazing creative venture. We sit down with the Singapore-based DJ duo to chat about their chic kimono collection (made from pre-loved sarees!), new music in the pipeline, and more.
Tell us a bit about yourselves and what brought you to Singapore.
We arrived here at the same time – around the end of 2015, beginning of 2016 – from different directions, India and Italy, both because of our work. In fact, we lived in the same city for almost five years, knew the same people, and attended the same music-related events, but our paths never crossed until 2020!
We like to think that everything happened at the right time when we were in the right mindset to meet each other, as if in the previous years we weren’t ready to start our journey together yet.
How did you two meet and bond over your shared love of fashion and music?
In 2020, during the Circuit Breaker, we met online and started talking about music. Beatrice wanted to learn how to DJ, and Naveen gladly offered to teach her. That’s how it all began – Sunday afternoon music classes! Over these classes, we became best friends, with our friendship blossoming from a shared passion for music.
As time went on, our relationship evolved, and we realised that we shared another goal: starting our own business. So, we decided to embark on this journey together with a kimono collection launched in Singapore. The idea started because Naveen has a long history of tailoring in his family back in India and Beatrice has a background in fashion retail; so we decided to combine our strengths and create Raja Rani.
Tell us about the fusing of two passions – music and fashion – at Raja Rani. Plus, what inspired the name?
We decided to blend our passions for music and fashion to create Raja Rani because we believe that both are powerful forms of self-expression. As a Singapore-based DJ duo, we are constantly inspired by the vibrant energy of music and we want to translate that into something tangible and wearable. The idea of upcycled kimonos came naturally to us, as they represent a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, much like our music.
The name Raja Rani reflects the regal elegance we aim to embody in our designs, but it goes beyond that. “Raja” means king and “Rani” means queen in Tamil, symbolising a perfect balance and partnership – much like our relationship, as well as the powerful combination of music and fashion. It’s a representation of duality – two complementary elements where one makes the other stronger.
Raja Rani offers beautiful contemporary Indian kimonos and garments in Singapore. Describe the designs and the creative process.
Our designs are always very simple, and we love to keep it that way! All our kimonos in Singapore are free size, and we try to create unisex designs as much as possible. What matters most to us is the feeling our garments embody – their energy and the way they can instantly uplift someone’s mood and bring happiness when worn.
The creative process begins with sourcing high-quality, pre-loved sarees. Each saree is carefully hand-picked and selected for its fabric, design, texture and colour combination. We then reimagine these sarees into our collection, ensuring that each piece retains its original charm while being adapted into a contemporary silhouette.
Sustainability is at the core of Raja Rani. Why is that?
Indian culture is famous for its beautiful and colourful sarees, but these incredible fabrics are usually worn only once for special occasions and then never again. With our little company, we are trying to give a second life to these fabrics, which would otherwise be underused, abandoned or end up in landfills.
The process is not as simple as it seems. There is extensive work involved behind these fabrics, including tight selection, super-careful quality checks and many hours of labour. It’s definitely easier to make garments with new fabrics, but we are happy to make a small contribution to the environment and think it’s worth it to educate people on sustainability.
As a Singapore DJ duo, you also produce music and perform internationally. Give us insight into your music.
Whether we’re playing at an intimate venue or a larger event, each performance is a special experience, filled with unforgettable moments and the joy of connecting with the crowd through music. The energy and passion we bring to our shows reflect our deep love for music. I mean, who doesn’t love music?
But the game changer is the crowd. Our music is a pure reflection of the love and energy we receive from the people on the dance floor. It could be a handful of people, or a few hundred. It’s the connection with the crowd that makes the music enjoyable. We try to keep our performances as interactive as possible. A brilliant track would mean nothing if we can’t connect with the crowd – it’s the congregation of energy that makes our sets fun and memorable.
What does a typical day look like for you as a Singapore DJ duo?
Our day job takes up the majority of our days! Yes, we both have full-time jobs, and Raja Rani is a project born entirely out of passion. It’s the project that motivates us and makes us happy, even though it’s not easy to keep track of everything! The time we can dedicate to this project is during evenings and weekends, and every single free moment we have outside of our jobs.
From kimonos to music, how do your styles and tastes inspire or complement each other’s?
While we often fight over what to watch on TV, when it comes to music, fashion and food, we definitely complement and enhance each other! Our music backgrounds are very different. Naveen grew up with Tamil and Bollywood music, while Beatrice grew up with Italian classical music, pop and rock. This makes our music sets interesting because we blend Western and Eastern sounds with electronic beats. These same influences in colours and patterns translate into our kimonos, available in Singapore and on our website, where we use Indian prints and fabrics combined with Italian cuts, finishes and attention to detail.
Where do you find inspiration in Singapore?
We find inspiration everywhere, not just in Singapore. Our travels expose us to diverse cultures, landscapes and experiences that constantly fuel our creativity. Inspiration can come from a captivating idea, a striking image, a unique sound, or even a simple conversation with friends. We always take inspiration from the people around us, from their personal histories, their talents and their energy. We know that everything we create is never just about the two of us; it’s about how we can combine all these influences, grow together and create a positive environment. The result is pure, new energy to share.
What can we look forward to from Raja Rani next?
Putting smiles on people’s faces is one of the main focuses of our project, whether it’s on the dancefloor or in front of the mirror when someone tries on our kimonos and their mood lights up! We will continue to put those big smiles on people’s faces and share positive energy with one another to build a better world for today and tomorrow.
Apart from our core values of building a positive and stronger community, you can expect a lot of new music. We have new productions slated for release under renowned record labels in the coming months. We’re also hoping to have a complete EP ready before the end of this year. Inspired by the sounds we have created, we are working on new kimonos and fun festival attire and accessories that will unfold in the coming months. Creating new music and new products is our way of building a stronger community, sharing love and values of collective growth and fulfilment of lives.
Raja Rani Studio is at 46 Seng Poh Road (by appointment only).
rajarani.org | IG: @raja_rani_org
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This article first appeared in the July 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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