He was a jewelry designer first, using his  knowledge of metals.  After his graduation from Parsons, he started  designing womenswear and debuted his first collection in Spring 1999.  It started his meteoric  rise as a fashion  designer. From Vogue to W, from the New York  Times to In Style, from  MTV and E!, the media   has followed Anand Jon's career. He established  himself as a fashion  force in two seasons  through his exquisite  clothing designs which  include painting, embroidery and hand  beading. With Anand Jon, Indo-chic was born!

 Anand Jon practices yoga and its metaphysica tenet has influenced his designs. His jewelry line in inspired by India's  spiritual symbols and his clothes under the label "Elements" is inspired by earth, water, fire and air (the elements in Eastern  religion). Even the name  of his perfume "Aura" connotes the  metaphysical.
 Short interview withAnand Jon
 Q: What is your opinion on the Indian influences  that have appeared in a lot of shows this season?
  This has always been his  signature style, how does it affect you?
  A: It's a form of flattery actually. Indo-chic has always been there on a  subtle level but designers have never really thought why until now. Now they are  making a casual element that has always been there stronger.
  Q: Since almost everyone is doing   Indian-inspired fashion,  what are your plans for  your designs? Will you be doing your own  version of street wear?
 A: This is a challenge, I  agree. But I've never  forgot my Indian heritage although that's  not all that I'm about. I  live in the USA and day  to day influences can’t  help but seep in to my collections so yes, its possible influences from street wear will infiltrate.

 From Real Women to Ceylon Maidens:
 Designer Anand Jon is a man true to his vision.
 Eschewing current fashion edicts like the military
 look or bondage inspired  frocks, Jon instead
 stuck to what he knows and does best for his Fall  2001 collection pieces in luxurious fabrics that honor and celebrate the female form and illustrate a world of influences.

 "My life is a theater," Jon has told International Fashions, "and I want the runway to represent that. But I also want it to represent how these clothes translate for real women." His show last night was a  brilliant example ofphilosophy. The venue may have been ironically anti artistic - The World  Bar at the WWF building in Times Square - but  that didn't stop fashionistas from waiting outside in the cold until the doors opened, or the likes of Rob Thomas Nicole Miller (and her family), Ashton Kutche and a bevy of socialites from waiting patiently  until Jon's spectacle hit  the runway. And once the dancers - two men, women - hit the stage for  a short interpretive  piece, the mood was utterly altered, and the  scene was set.

 The first look was a  wearable sculpture - a    painted metal bustier -  that Jon and sculptor   Edina S. collaborated on  for the show. Then  began the parade of colors, fabrics and styles Jon is known for. Quilted silks spoke of Ceylon    maidens, leathers in   primary colors and  cutouts were go-go
 ready, and tweed pieces with leather piping and demure wrap blouses oozed cosmopolitan
 chic.   A number of the pieces   felt more beachy than   foul-weather-friendly,  including a series of
   electric blue silk pieces  with a whimsical ribbon   design and some    ultra-sheer offerings. But  the high points were   those that most openly   embraced Jon's myriad influences, and were as much imbued with an  aura of metropolitan glamour as they were  steeped in Indian culture   and Eastern philosophy.After all, the collection's theme was based on the  ancient art of divination. Long multi-layered skirts  in vibrant, spice-toned  hues were exotic without being alienating, and   ultimately graceful. But when paired with sheer or  beaded halter tops, the ensembles had a   youthful, energetic    attitude. That attitude  was helped along by the  presence of Paris and   Nikki Hilton, twin-siste celebs Tia and Tamara, and Izabella Miko on the catwalk.  Even the finale, a lavish, Indian-inspired wedding gown with intricate gold embroidery, had  playfully sexy twist: two nipple-exposing cut outs  in the bustier. The gown  as with the rest of  collection, was made with  too much consideration of culture and style to be  wholly irreverent. Rather, it was simply an act in  Jon's elaborate and  never-ending play.  At least backstage afterwards we saw the clothes up close and personal, hanging back  on the rails. My favorite was a Mongolian lined pink brocade coat and after seeing show video this certainly looked like the showstopper. The rest was vibrant, Indian-inspired gold brocades, peach and purple in an exotic heady mix. Anand was kissing Ananda Lewis (music video DJ) who he modeled the show and actor Laurence Fishburn was being mobbed by  the Papparazi. It was pure fashion mayhem so time to move on to the next  event.