Prayag and Porus caught our eye with the beautiful shoots they create together. With Porus behind the camera and Prayag styling, they seamlessly collaborate with each other and inform the other's work. It was only natural we featured them together. VSP chats to the couple about their influences, the biggest trends this year, and how they got their start in fashion. 

Tell us about how you both started in the industry:
Porus: I was finishing a three year diploma in fashion when I met Prayag in 2006. At the time I was still trying to figure what I wanted to do in fashion. Flying airplanes sounded like an exciting idea at the time, since I grew up fascinated with planes owing to my father being an airline pilot. I received my Commercial Pilots Licenses in 2009 along with Prayag. In 2010 I lost my father to cancer. It was a difficult time and I took to photography as a means of catharsis. I decided I wanted to get back to doing something creative and photography seemed like a wonderful option. I studied photography in Vancouver for a year in 2011 and returned to India. Soon after, I started shooting for Marie Claire and eventually Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue India, GQ South Africa, as well as many designer brands.

Prayag: I have always loved fashion. However I never really considered to pursue it professionally. I dropped out of undergrad (I was pursuing a BCom) after the first 6 months because it did not interest me. I met Porus around the same time and we decided to pursue aviation together. We lived in Texas for a year, came back to India in 2009. My entry into fashion and the industry happened by incident. In 2013, once Porus (who by then had decided to leave aviation and pursue photography) began his career as a photographer in India, I decided to help him with his creative shoots by styling them. To my surprise, industry insiders soon began to notice my work. Being a trained pilot and still keen to join the airlines despite the job market saturating, I was reluctant to suddenly switch careers, but Porus encouraged me to explore my creative potential. I am completely self taught and have not assisted or interned under anyone. This meant, I had to work extremely hard, self-critique and learn with each shoot. I began styling look books and campaigns for some prominent designer brands. My big break happened in 2016, when the editor of Harper’s Bazaar India, Nonita Kalra, invited me to become a contributing editor to the magazine. I began styling Bazaar’s main fashion stories and even styled the July 2017 cover. Simultaneously, I began contributing to ELLE India as well. It was my dream to work with publications, and I was thrilled to achieve this dream within the first 4 years of my career, having started as a complete outsider!

What are some influences that show up in your work?
Porus: Some of my influences come from old family photos, observing people and their body language in everyday situations, paintings and William Klein’s street photography. There is so much inspiration in daily life and people around you and to be able to incorporate that in my work is what excites me most.
Prayag: I love the idea of effortless chic, elegance and refinement. A lot of my influence comes from renaissance art and the people in my life - I am always attracted to strong personalities who exude a natural confidence and who dress to feel good for themselves.

How would you describe each other's style?
Porus: Prayag’s dressing puts emphasis on comfort above all else. His style is always put-together, confident and relaxed.
Prayag: Porus is the best dressed man I know. His style is crisp and effortless along with a great sense of colour pairing.

What do you think will be the biggest trends this year?
Porus: Eighties jackets!
Prayag: Texture, and 60s prints.

What are you looking forward to in the near future?
Porus: Working with exciting and interesting people along with a lot of travel.
Prayag: To do good work, travel and realise all our dreams!

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Prayag & Porus wear Balmain, Yves Saint Laurent, Comme Des Garçons & Prada. 

Photos & Text by Marlowe Granados
Styled by Prayag Menon-Vimadalal