Tea Time with Waris Ahluwalia

By Sara James Mnookin
October 12, 2010

Waris

Waris Ahluwalia seems to glide around on his own little cloud of good fortune. He’s appeared in two Wes Anderson films (and one by Spike Lee), landed on Vanity Fair’s "Best Dressed" list and earned a finalist slot for the coveted Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund award, thanks to his elegantly bohemian House of Waris jewelry line. His latest pet project is a pop up shop and tea room beneath the High Line in Chelsea. (It opened last Thursday and continues brewing through the weekend.) Between the hours of noon and 6 p.m., you can sip tea in the garden (though there’s no guarantee the "Darjeeling Limited" star will be on hand to pour it for you) or peruse a carefully edited array of goods for sale, all gathered by Ahluwalia himself: from limited edition pieces by APC and Rodarte, to Assouline books and Criterion DVDS, to a collection of antiques found—where else?—on eBay. (Left: Waris Ahluwalia)

As his shop was popping up, Ahluwalia’s spoke with The Inside Source about finding film roles without an agent and crafting baubles from "gold that holds history, diamonds that see the future, and rubies that long for love."

The Inside Source: The House of Waris jewelry collection started with a couple of rings and an order from upscale boutique Maxfield in L.A. In what ways has the jewelry collection evolved since then?

Waris Ahluwalia: The jewelry line began with a whim. A few rings. Then there was an idea. The idea became a philosophy: to find the best artisans in the world and preserve the world of hand craftsmanship. Not as museum relics but as a way of life. Hand-worked jewelry of beauty that live alongside the mass produced items of our world. That philosophy has become a company. I have spent the last six years searching the world for the best craftsmen. They make it possible. The generations of skill in their hands. My journey started in Rome, where I found my first workshop. Then onto India, where the family has been working in jewelry for centuries. They have a love and an innate understanding of the materials. Once again, it's magic. From there, onto Bangkok and then somehow [I] found my way home to work with a hand engraver in New York. I work with gold that holds history, diamonds that see the future, and rubies that long for love. There's a story in each stone—I'll leave it for you to find them on your own.

House of Waris Tea Room

TIS: Where do you find inspiration for new jewelry pieces?

Waris Ahluwalia: I always say that my inspirations come from love and history. I must also note that I claim to understand neither.

TIS: In your research of fine jewelry, what have you come across that has stayed with you and made a significant impact?

Waris Ahluwalia: I'm not much of an academic, so research has never been my strong suit. My learning comes from the process. Watching the work come to life has made quite an impact on me. The patience, skill and commitment it takes is marveling.

Pieces from the Omnia Vincit Amor Part II collection from the HOUSE of WARIS

TIS: You fell into a parallel career as an actor. Do you now have an agent? Are there roles you turn down?

Waris Ahluwalia: No agent. I prefer to speak to the directors myself. Everything I do is of such a personal nature, and I apply that with everything. There indeed are roles that get turned down—sometimes its just not right for me.

TIS: Are you working on any film projects now?

Waris Ahluwalia: I have two films coming up in the fall, but I never say anything until we start shooting.

The Inside Source: How did your pop up shop come about?

Waris Ahluwalia: I got an email from Building Fashion and Boffo [a New York-based non-profit arts and cultural organization]—they outlined the project and asked if I would be interested in doing a retail pop up. When I saw the space, I said we could do more than just a jewelry shop. I wanted to create a space that was active. That people could interact with. There's a garden out back and I wanted to see people in it. Families. Friends. So that's what we did. I called up a tea estate I love in foothills of the Himalaya's and that's where this adventure begins.

The Inside Source: What will you be offering for sale in the shop?

Waris Ahluwalia: HOUSE of WARIS Tea from the grandest of tea estates in the foothills of the Himalayas; organic biscuits and chocolates by Daylesford Organic from the English countryside; special detergent crafted for your denim by APC & Aesop; a book of love by Andre; guides to better living from Assouline; impossible to get, never before available, the finest extra virgin olive oil from Bar Pitti; fresh, delicious granola from Cafe Cluny (daily deliveries!); the greatest loves stories from Criterion; pretty, yet sturdy tool sets from the beautiful Cynthia Rowley, limited edition signed works of art by Eric Anderson; fine linen embroidered napkins and never-before-available silver editions from the Omnia Vincit Amor collection from the HOUSE of WARIS; antiques from eBay, first-time-on-our shores tote bags from Olympia Le Tan; last of the Breathless posters designed and signed by the sisters Rodarte; and wild-crafted,hand-blended products from Sponge Skincare.
All gathered in one place.

The Inside Source: Tell us about the pieces you selected on eBay...

Waris Ahluwalia: I love antiques. Spending time at Clignancourt [a famous flea market] in Paris is one of my favorite pastimes. But I couldn't get to Paris in time. So we thought eBay might have some fun stuff. We got a beautiful brass eagle, a monkey and palm tree candle stick holder an old timey apothecary candy jar and even Sugardaddys to fill it with. I want to create an experience—more than a shop. Also, we got a Fuji Instamax camera to document our guests at the tea room.