It seems like India has become the Six Flags of international travel. Everyone is either heading to bike-ride there or just returning from the Kumbh Mela. Lucky were those 150 like Matt Wilkerson, Omar Esparza, Scott Pharr, Monk White, Brady Allen, Carol Quist, Ricky Grunden, Chris Hender, Holly Reed, Brad Beaird, Lonnie Jordan, Debra Nelson, Lynae Fearing and Mary and Alberto Tomas, who attended the House of DIFFA patron party at Art of Old India Thursday. They didn’t suffer the jet lag or the pricey airline ticket and yet they still were surrounded with fabulous Indian art and collectibles. Owners Jayshree and Pankaj Dalal were delighted with the turnout as they welcomed old and new friends to their 25,000-square-foot showroom. While still making frequent trips back to India for shopping, the Dalals have been in Dallas for decades. Pankaj admitted that business was good in the 70s, 80 and 90s. Then the recession hit. But recently “it’s starting to come back.”
Among the Indian screens, art and statues were 25 of the jackets that will be in the spotlight at this Saturday’s House of DIFFA gala benefiting DIFFA Dallas.
DIFFA Dallas Board Chairman Emeritus Greg Haynes Johnson revealed that this year’s collection of jackets will be half the size of the old “jean jacket” shows, when they’d have 150 or more. And what a collection they’ll have. This year there will be around 60 couture types like Rock Star and Alfonso Serrano’s black jacket with flickering sparklers. The bulbs last for a year-and-a-half. And you even get extra batteries for the lights.
Greg reported that they hoped to beat last year’s $800K and were aiming at the $1M mark.
BTW, one of the highlights of the crowd is checking out guests, who wear jackets that they won from past DIFFA extravaganzas.
Another will be the items in addition to the jackets that will be on the bloc. Want a for instance? How about four days in a villa near Tulum, Mexico? Or, what about a trip to Argentina? Perfect timing since Pope Francis has literally put it on the map.
And then there is Guillermo Cardenas of Muzeion, who has donated a 3,800-year-old bronze spear point from Luristan to the silent auction. The estimated value: $3,000 to $5,000.
Ah, but we digress. Back to the patron party! La Madeleine Founder Patrick Esquerre reported that the French restaurant chain just celebrated its 30th anniversary last week with a celebration for 200 at the original location on Mockingbird.
If you haven’t gotten your tickets to Saturday’s gala, you’re gonna have to know somebody who knows somebody with a lot of clout. According to John Bobbitt, “We’re technically sold out of tables and have moved the stage back to accommodate a few more tables in the room for last-minute hopefuls!”
The guests who were at Art of Old India aren’t worried one iota, because they already have their tickets.