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Born in Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley, surrounded by the ethereal beauty of the Himalayas, Ayesha Depala’s early years were spent immersed in nature; swimming in rivers, climbing mountains and rafting in nearby Ladakh—a far cry from the frenetic energy of Dubai, the city she has now called home for over two decades.
Well-known in the Emirates as one of the country’s most successful fashion designers, Ayesha launched her eponymous label in Dubai in 2002 with a standalone store in Jumeirah’s Village Mall, after moving from India with her husband. Her brand of feminine balloon-sleeve blouses, high-waisted harem pants, and elegant embellished gowns caught the eye of regional celebrities and socialites, cementing her status at the top of the local fashion scene.
“From the outside it appeared as though I had what I needed to sustain a beautiful life, and yet I felt unfulfilled,” she says. Following a particularly challenging time in her personal life, she began to question the path she was on, eventually finding herself drawn to the remote jungles of the Amazon where she spent time rediscovering herself under the guidance of shamans.
The experience and the years of exploration since helped to reawaken her spiritual side, reminding her of her Indian heritage by revisiting the myriad ancient practices she had been exposed to as child. “My curiosity for the world and its mysteries started when I was in my early teens,” she says. “I had the privilege to be born into a lineage where I was exposed to meditation, astrology and the healing arts very young, thanks to my aunt Nandita.” Now a certified reiki healer and breathwork practitioner, as well as learning a multitude of other disciplines including hypnosis and herbology, Ayesha’s focus has turned to healing, this year launching a wellness brand in collaboration with her longtime master and tutor Paramguru, who she met in Dubai seven years ago. “I have been his disciple ever since. Traveling with him to spiritual sites in India, like Vrindavan, where he imparts his deep wisdom on ancient texts and scriptures. His wisdom is infinite.”
Named DiviNom, in homage to the “divine potential that plants hold to heal us,” the first product in the new line will be Rose Healing Water, the composition of which is derived from ancient texts and is charged with energy from the full moon. “It’s great for restoring the pita, or heat, in the body, assisting with concerns with eyesight, dry eyes, insomnia, calming your nervous system… its benefits are endless,” she says. The line will be available by subscription in July 2024.
The fashion is still there, but taking on a more simplified, sustainable, and much slower approach. “My perspective as a human being is now to be of service, not merely to sell,” she says. “My brand has evolved with me as I evolve. I have made more conscious decisions in terms of the textile and fibers I use. Making conscious decisions to recycle and resell any garments from previous seasons. Our fibers are made from flaxseed, organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp. Manmade fibers are detrimental not just to the health of the planet, but also to the human body.”
Her daily routine also focuses on wellbeing for herself and her family, regularly starting the day with yoga and breath work on the beach before the sun has risen, swimming in the ocean as often as possible, and spending time grounding and connecting with nature, just as she did as a child back in Srinagar.
Ayesha’s Dubai wellness address book
1. Maison Nefertari
“Definitely one of the gems of Dubai, I have a monthly hammam treatment at Maison Nefertari. I find the therapists highly qualified, kind, and compassionate, which is a really important part of my ritual. They use clean beauty products which is really important to me. The space is created around ancient wisdom rituals, Egyptian longevity, and beauty secrets.”
Address: Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1
2. Free Spirit Collective, City Walk
“There is a beautiful space in City Walk called Free Spirit Collective where I am a student of astrology, taught by Briar Jacques. They also hold events for the wellness community—I recently took part in one on Vedic psychology with my master Paramguru.”
Address: City Walk
3. Matcha Club
“I regularly attend Matcha to practice yoga with Neha, Nitai,and Allie. I work on my hip flexibility with Nitai, as my flexors are really tight, despite years of yoga. I love Neha’s Ashtanga and Vinyasa classes; her philosophy, wisdom, and precise articulation of postures keep me coming back to her classes.”
Address: Al Quoz Court
4. Illuminations Dubai
“The Nadi Awakening package at Illuminations has been the first thing to loosen my hips. I've been practicing yoga for over 26 years and I still can’t touch my toes easily. Ever since I started this treatment, which has to be done 30 days back-to-back, I’ve found deep release. It’s not relaxing, it's quite painful as it goes deep into the fascia, but it works.”
Address: Fortune Executive Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers
5. Siro One Za’abeel
“I would highly recommend travelers to visit this space at Siro One Za'abeel, and for residents too. It offers a blend of practices like yoga and pilates but it also has an integrative setup of holistic and Western modalities; cold plunge, cryo chamber, and infrared sauna. It’s a modern, clean, sophisticated space. You can also work from there, looking out over great views of the city.”
Address: Za’abeel 1
6. The beach at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
“I have recently started waking up before sunrise and going to the beach for Pranayama breath work, Surya Namaskar (sun salutations), grounding, chanting, and then to meditate and swim afterwards. This practice itself takes around three hours.”
Address: Jumeirah Beach Road
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.
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