NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Very rarely do we see people picked up at random from the streets for a modelling gig for a big fashion brand. We might be secretly wishing for the same, but it rarely happens. But success comes to those who do not expect the fruit.

Take Ajit Singh Bharth, for example. He’s a 62-year-old cab driver in New York City. On one trip, he dropped off a passenger in Midtown Manhattan and was spotted by Quinton Clemm from Eidos Fashion, a luxury fashion brand for men.

“I ONLY CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF HIS PROFILE, BUT AS THE CAB PULLED OFF FROM THE CURB AND INTO THE TRAFFIC, I KNEW THAT I HAD TO CATCH THIS CAB. AFTER JOGGING TWO BLOCKS AFTER THE VEHICLE, BHARTH CAUGHT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HOPPED INTO THE BACK OF HIS CAB.”

Quinton got to talk to him. He asked him if he could come down for a trial fitting. Co-incidentally, Antonio Ciongoli, Creative Director of Eidos was present later that day, and they put together an ensemble for Bharth to try on.

Clemm also said that Antonio wanted to feature only people of Indian origin for Eidos’ 2017 Spring/Summer Collection, and he got the idea from a tour of Rajasthan earlier this year. Bharth and his turban really stood out, which is why he chose him to be featured.

“EVERYTHING FROM HIS GLASSES AND FULL WHITE BEARD, TO THE OFF-WHITE SPREAD COLLAR SHIRT THAT HE WAS WEARING WHEN WE MET MADE IT CLEAR THAT BHARTH BELONGED IN OUR PRESENTATION.”

Clemm said Bharth was very polite and accommodating during the whole process. Many international publications and reviewers gave a positive opinion about the collection and Antonio’s idea bore fruit.

You never know when the Universe decides to bless you!