Ladakhi in Silk Roads History, Images by Avani Rai for Grazia International

Ladakhi in Silk Roads History, Envisioned by Avani Rai and Dané Stojanovic AOC New Humanism

Anne of Carversville did not share previously this magnificent fashion story, photographed by Avani Rai [IG] for Grazia International [IG] December 2024 issue. Models include Amu Teli; Ani or Anika [@ananikani]; and Mila Dechen. The enormously-talented Dané Stojanovic provided creative direction for the ‘Bon Voyage’ fashion shoot, placed with changes in multiple magazines. Malkeet Singh styles the fashion expedition with its focus on Namza Couture[IG]. / Hair by Umang Thapa; Makeup by Harshita Josh

We’ve pulled out this story focused on ‘The Silk Road’ to honor Avani Rai’s father, renowned photographer Raghu Rai and equally the work of her mother, conservation architect Gurmeet Sangha Rai.

Honoring the Rai Family

The world suffered a significant loss with the passing of Rangha Rai in April. The Magnum Photos member was working with photographer Solve Sundsbo on the 2027 Pirelli calendar, when he passed. The focus of this year’s calendar is women of India.

Advancing and Cultivating A New Humanism

Today, the relevance of this fashion story has become critical across Anne of Carversville, as we give voice to major changes in the world of luxury fashion that we call New Humanism.

A key plank of AOC’s vision of the original Renaissance Humanism vs New Humanism is its lack of a Eurocentric lens. This global embrace of humanity has motivated me my entire life, with travels and a career around the world more times than I can count.

The Place of Ladakhi in Silk Roads History

The fashion story takes us to Ladakh, which was never an isolated mountain kingdom; it was the vibrant pulse point of the Trans-Himalayan Silk Road from as early as the 2nd century BCE. Its primary town, Leh, acted as a massive commercial hub where the trade routes of Central Asia, South Asia, and Tibet converged.

Traders coming from China, India, and Persia had to navigate the brutal high-altitude passes of the Karakoram range and the Zoji La pass to reach Ladakh. Oasis settlements and villages in Ladakh’s high-altitude desert survived by operating as caravanserais [resting stops]. Here, exhausted traders swapped pack animals—exchanging horses and yaks for Central Asian Bactrian camels—while purchasing food, shelter, and fodder.

Follow the link top of post to read the entire story in New Humanism.