This week's goodies!

Kinche Boutique

Payal Jaggi, the owner of Kinche Boutique, started the boutique to bring her favorite style of decorating - the french country chic / cottage style to India. After 15 years of experiencing the world as an air crew member, Payal's boutique brings to us the very best in her preferred style, with her carefully researched and hand picked products. Kinche Boutique is located in Gurgaon, India, and soon, would be available to us via her online store! For now, browse through the expanding collection here. 

Krya

When Preethi  Sukumaran, the creative one half behind Krya, send me an email sharing her company's philosophy, I did a quick little jig right in front of my surprised laptop. You would too, if you were handed an organic and natural alternative to your daily washing machine detergent. Preethi graciously sent a packet to me to try out, and for probably the first time ever, I couldn't wait to wash clothes! Krya's natural detergent is made of soapnuts (known as reetha in hindi) and works way better than regular detergents (my personal experience!). And the fact that you are contributing your little bit to help  protect the environment, well, that makes the mundane task of loading a washing machine, a whole lot agreeable!
Read about, and shop Krya's first product here. Connect with Preethi and Srini on their blog or on Krya's facebook page.

TexturedInk

Ankita Kejriwal, the vibrant owner and graphic designer at TexturedInk is truly a child of the east, and now, a citizen of the western world. Her work is a beautiful balance between the rich colors and contrasts - an influence of her eastern upbringing, and the crisp, simple lines - an impact of the minimal western design aesthetics. Ankita's shop on Etsy called TexturedINK, is the place where she designs and sell modern graphic design paper goods for the home. Apart from paper prints, posters, art panels and personal stationery, she's also proud to offer unique products printed on recycled wood panels - the wood for which has been salvaged from fallen trees in apple orchards! And what's more, Ankita is offering a 10% discount to An Indian Summer readers for the next 15 days [i.e till Dec 10th]. Use the code Thanks11 to shop now!  

Collective Craft

Collective Craft, founded by Shweta Mohapatra and Sibanand Bhol is a collaborative effort of a group of designers, artists and architects. It is based in Delhi and Orissa, India. Collective Craft works on sustainable design practices, craft revival and also, in developing contemporary craft products along with local artisans. For the founders, creating a smaller ecological footprint and developing sustainable products are two critical parameters for all their design projects. 

The philosophy behind their products, combined with their sublime designs, is a winning combination for me. You can read more about their process on their blog, and get in touch with them via Collective Craft's facebook page. 

 Shakiraaz

Shakiraaz, the online store for all the all things pretty, has been started by Shakira Lima, a textile and graphic designer.  Shakira is based out of Melbourne, and creates beautiful designs on, and from the textiles she sources from India. She would soon be launching a printed range of tableware in silk and linen. Get in touch with her on Shakiraaz's facebook page.

Aniika

Aniika, which means 'beautiful' in Sanskrit, is an apt name for Meghana Rao and Shamim's  maiden venture. Aniika, headquartered in India, with offices in the US, is a virtual bazaar for emerging Indian designers to build their brand and sell their creations globally. Aniika, currently still in beta, will be an excellent source for design enthusiasts to get their hands on fresh contemporary designs from India. Connect with Aniika on facebook, and shop their current collection of goodies here. 

Devajyoti Ray

My post on Indian Art Collective yesterday reminded me of a talented artist who had shared his work with me a few weeks back. Devajyoti Ray, whose work was recently exhibited at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, is inspired by the concept of pseudo-realism. His paintings pick mundane scenes from day to day life and convert them into color blocked works of art. Take a look at select paintings here and the schedule of upcoming exhibitions here.  

OMI

OMI [Oh My India] by Omi Gurung, is a group that aims to be the catalyst in changing the lifestyle of people in India, by creating awareness to reduce, reuse and recycle domestic waste. Omi's site is a growing resource for DIY tips, reuse projects and sustainable products, and helps people get started in this direction. Connect with Omi here.

 Kabutar.in

And finally, a happening new site for, well, that what is happening right now! Shubhendu, one of the founders of this wacky site, send me an email that made me smile. And at the threat of his 'standing in a corner to sulk', I promised him that I'll share kabutar.in with you guys :). So here it is - a new place to share your pic and let the world know what is happening right now! And if this is your thing, then there is an iPhone app too folks!

[All images copyright respective owners and An Indian Summer]

All this Art...

K Laxma Goud

 ...is now available online!

But just for this week! Indian Art Collective, the first ever online art fair in India is on, and everyone is invited. Selected art works from galleries across the country, have been brought together in this online fair and are available for sale. While most of the art work is targeted towards serious art collectors, there is a decent representation of comparatively affordable work from new artists. Even if you are not keen on picking up an art piece, you could still spend hours browsing through and get inspired by the vast range of original paintings, sculptures and installations showcased on the site. Here's a really very brief glimpse into the variety of art the fair brings for us:

Chitta Prosad Bhattacharya

A Ramachandran

Seema Kohli

 Dibin Thilakan

Jamini Roy

K.S. Kulkarni

Manjit Bawa

[Image copyright: India Art Collective]

I'll be back tomorrow with some talented people and interesting new stores and products. Sorry, I was away last week - have been having a busy run! Can't wait for that elusive time off. Sigh.

 

It's time for

...some retail therapy!

Presenting to you today, three distinctive online stores from India, all three conceptualized and run by brilliant young women. I really admire their creative vision and entrepreneurial zeal, and love how their online ventures are shaping up. Each store has a unique personality, and collectively they are a virtual shopping paradise! Take a look at my pick of favorites from each online store..

Shopo

Shopo is bright, kitchy, fun and hugely inspiring - just like it's co-founder Krithika Nelson. Krithika and Theyagarajan set up Shopo on lines of an Indian marketplace. It provides designers from India a platform to take their products online, and us buyers a chance to buy beautifully handcrafted, unique products from all parts of the country. I love how each designer selling via Shopo gets the opportunity to share his/her profile - a way to stand out in a sea of beautiful products!

Kanika's Anek Designs, a perennial favorite

Vineeta's legendary decoupaged trays and boxes from ArtnLight

Gorgeous shibori fabric products from Sarah's Umoya

Journals galore in Kavya's Kaagazi

Studio a* by Shivani

Afday

Afday [Art For Every Day], is Rashmi Daga's online baby. With the firm belief that 'art' is present in every day and every small little thing, Rashmi set up this online store, where she curates carefully selected handmade works of professional and amateur designers. Afday is the perfect source for fresh off-the-oven designs and products. Some of my current favorites are:   

Man series cushion cover and Sculptural fabric clock

Hand embroidered cushion cover in tussar silk and Ikat lampshade

Bunting ipad cover and ceramic autorickshaw

Banana fibre bag and Picture postcard place mats

Afday has a special discount code for you! An Indian Summer readers can get a 10% discount on any item they shop from Afday by using the code indiansummer10. And if you shop for more than INR 2000, you'll also get a surprise gift!

Pret-Amoda

Pret-Amoda is an online destination for exclusive fashion and accessories from established and emerging designers from India. A play on French and Italian words meaning 'ready to fashion' – the name Pret-Amoda captures the essence of what Ritika Walia, it's founder, envisioned the store to be. Ritika leveraged her experience in luxury fashion merchandising in the UK and in India, and set up Pret-Amoda as an exclusive retail channel, easily accessible for shoppers of Indian inspired fashion from around the world. While I eagerly await new additions to their home decor segment, here is my wish list from their current selection:

Mike Knowles pop print and Cushion from Abraham & Thakore

From Aka Nu Deli studio and Mustard clutch

Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia and Lotus Sutra

Dresses by Divya Anand and Gaurav Jai Gupta

[All images copyrighted to respective store owners and designers]

And if you still haven't had enough of retail therapy, come back tomorrow morning (morning India time that is).
I'll announce Announced the winner of a dress from Shabby Apple here! Go check!

Could we...

..take a walk ♪

Could we

♪ Have a talk

[Could We: Cat Power]

Thank you
It was great ♪

Let's make another date
Real soon 

♪ In the afternoon
:)

[Image credit: All but one, Last one]

 

Shabby Apple Gives Away..

...A dress of your choice

In your size

Wherever you are in the world!

When Alex from Shabby Apple wrote to me about hosting this generous giveaway, I was very happy to offer the opportunity to you, my top-of-the-pops readers, to win a dress from Shabby Apple's eclectic collection. Shabby Apple is a fashion company for women, by women, and of women, and believes that 'beautiful dressing shouldn't be complicated'!

How to enter and win!

1. Look through Shabby Apple's fabulouso collection online

2. Select one dress that you absolutely adore and would like to win, and leave the name of the dress in the comments section of this post. Oh, and leave your email too so that I can reach you incase you win!

3. And, ummm....that's it!


The contest is open for a week, and I'll update this post with the name of the lucky lucky winner (I am already jealous!) on Nov 11th! The winner, who will be randomly selected, gets the dress of her [or his!] choice delivered to her [or his] doorstep!  

Giveaway open exclusively to

An Indian Summer readers, and

Fans on facebook

Much love

From me 

To you

[Links: Shop Shabby Apple; Shabby Apple on Facebook, Blog]

............................................................................

Winner Update [Nov 12, 2011]

The winner is 

Maheswari Janarthanan!

Congratulations Maheswari! :)

Please drop in an email to me, and I'll share your details with Shabby Apple.

Winner selected using Random Generator. Click on image to enlarge.

Thank you all for participating! 

I hope to bring more such fun giveaways for you in the coming months!

How could I resist..

..these gorgeous textiles

And magical rooms

At Le Jardin des Biehn

Take a look

And tell me

Would it have been right for me to resist?

Le Jardin des Biehn, a former summer palace of Pasha Si Tayeb el Mokri in Morocco, has been restored by Catherine and Michel Biehn. This boutique guest house is beautifully decorated with textiles from all over the world, including Central Asia and India, and antique costumes collected by Michel over the years.

[All images: Le Jardin des Biehn]

You and I,
we'll resist another day :)