Mela Artisans - By Heart, By Hand (Featured Brand)

I personally have a lot of admiration and respect for the new wave of entrepreneurs who don’t just think business but are on a more purposeful social entrepreneurial mission. A mission steered by the thought to give back to the community. One such lifestyle brand, ideated by father-daughter duo - Navroze S. Mehta and Sonali Mehta Rao, is Mela Artisans! Based out of NYC, not only did this brand resonate with me on a design level but also because at its core, they are continually striving to bring about a positive change for the Indian artisans who are struggling to keep our heritage crafts alive. 

GRAMERCY COLLECTION

In 2015, Mela succeeded in creating 7,000 jobs for these artisans! Mela believes in going beyond “just supporting their livelihoods.” They have been ploughing back 1% of their sales into projects that help their artisans. They’ve partnered with Vision Spring, Sevamob, and Greenlight Planet (three innovative social enterprises in India), to bring vision exams, healthcare and solar lamps respectively to empower the artisan communities. 

CHANTILLY COLLECTION

By assisting artisan communities’ access new markets, Mela Artisan is truly a catalyst in preserving and reviving the heritage crafts of India. Unlike a lot of other sites that pull together artisan/handmade products from India, Mela has an in-house design team that curates and designs each collection. Navroze (co-founder) travels to India several times each year to meet with the artisans in person. Once they finalize on the artisan sector they wish to work with, the design team taps into the skillsets of the artisans and then takes on the task to create products for a global audience with a contemporary design palate. The response to Mela’s products has been phenomenal! Their products have been featured on PopSugar, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and at more than 300 boutiques across US!

FANTASY AND IMPERIAL BEAUTY COLLECTION

In the home décor segment, their product range includes photo frames, boxes, trays, bowls, tabletop vases, candle holders, throw pillows and desk accessories, with each product page narrating the story of the community responsible for creating it. The design process adopted by Mela has effortlessly included bone inlay and wood carving into their amazing collections that is the perfect balance of the best of the traditional Indian craft forms with the functionality of contemporary design. 

TRIBECA COLLECTION

My absolute favorite amongst the collections being the Gramercy and the Imperial Beauty. Also, their latest experiment to modernize traditional Indian Ikat has resulted in the Buna collection. Strung together by handloom artisans of South India, the Buna collection is made of woven banana fibers and sea grass, using an Ikat warp.

BUNA COLLECTION

And for the fashionistas, they have an amazing collection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, earrings and scarves. 

 SPOILT FOR CHOICE - BOLD STATEMENT PIECES TO CHIC AND ELEGANT

The wonderful people at Mela wanted me to sample a piece of their stunning jewelry collection. Given that it was the holiday party season, I chose to review the Hidden Cay Multi-Color Necklace. I fell in love with its chic and elegant design!14kt Gold Plated, this brass necklace is delicate with alternating rectangle Aqua Chalcedony, Blue lapis and Green onyx. It has a beautiful finish, great detailing (like even the clasp has a mini-elephant dangler), really light-weight and very sturdy. The versatile design can be styled either with a formal evening dress or with jeans for a casual lunchdate with girlfriends! Overall a totally charming necklace and very well made!

A CLOSE UP OF THE HIDDEN CAY NECKPIECE.......AND THE NEXT IMAGE IS OF ME SPORTING THE CASUAL-CHIC LOOK WITH MY VERY OWN HIDDEN CAY NECKLACE

Mela currently ships only in the USA. You can shop for Mela products right here and do your bit to support these wonderful craft forms and a genuine mission. Should you decide to shop in person, they also have two stores, one in Manchester, VT (4566 Main Street, Manchester VT) and other recently opened in Soho between Houston and Prince (580 Broadway Room 711, NY). They have some amazing Cyber Monday offers (50%off sitewide) and sales going on right now, so make you head to their web boutique right away. Also make sure to stay connected with them via their SM platforms like Facebook and Instagram for latest updates and insider scoop on sales.

I wish Mela Artisans all the very best in their endeavor to support such a wonderful cause! 
As for you my lovely peeps, have a wonderful week ahead!

(Image Courtesy: Mela Artisans but for the last image - Sruthi Singh)

Celebrating Print, Pattern and Color with Fab India

Fab India needs no introduction. It is one of my favorite stops when it comes to soft furnishings and Indian wear. Today the spotlight is on their Spring and Summer home collection 2016. It appealed to me on every level - be it color, pattern, texture or the product styling, it is spot on.  Here are some exclusive shots to make your heart flutter and add some color to an other wise mundane Thursday:) 

The floral motifs in bright hues truly mimic the happy season, Spring!

Finally leaving you with this gorgeous soiree setting.....Sigh! How I wish I could just sit awhile and stare at nothing.....but alas, it is just Thursday, so let's get rolling!

(Image Courtesy : Fab India)

Auraz Design - Featured Brand

Meticulously handcrafted, genuine antique furniture is often hard to come by. You either inherit such treasures or look high and low till you hit the jackpot on one of those furniture scouring trips. But if you want the easy way out, let me introduce you to “Auraz Design - Antique looks for the modern soul.” Auraz Designs is a Bengaluru based online store where each and every piece is hand-picked and verified for authenticity. Auraz believes that the antiques furniture market in India is fairly disorganized and aims to simplify and improve the customer experience in the process of purchasing antiques. 

“We at Auraz, are reshaping consumer ideas about the design of modern spaces. We are passionate about experimental home decor by pairing antiques with modern accessories - helping us blend history and modernity. We are creating a one of a kind web experience which reflects this unique combination.”

If the trill of the hunt for that one standout piece is wearing you out, may I suggest you check out Auraz’s collection. As we know, the best dressed homes mix styles, eras and personality to get that va-va-voom look.

You may connect with them via their Facebook page, Etsy store or their website at aurazdesign.com. Won’t you agree when I say that owning a piece of history just got easy! Auraz has a flash sale that runs till the end of the month:) 

(Image Credit/Copyright: Auraz Design. The images may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of the owner) 

Global-Desi Style of Decorating (Home Tour)

Over time our decorating style and preferences for color, art and artifacts, tend to evolve. I personally think, we are heading in the right direction as it indicates that we have developed a more mature and refined taste when it comes to decor aesthetics. We have been able to master the art of applying what we have observed, explored and absorbed over the years. For instance, in my initial years of decorating,  my style was distinctly ethnic Indian. But with the passage of time and my fair share of travels and all that I’ve been exposed to and experienced, I have migrated to a decorating style that I'd like to coin as the “Eclectic Global-Desi style”. I would describe this style as being largely India inspired with a streak of the modern, retro, vintage, country, contemporary and traditional vibe. But it also involves embracing and tapping into the pool of cultural diversity of different countries. Tell me how does one not fall in love with the Suzanis from Uzbekistan, Ceramics from China and Korea, wood carving from Thailand, baskets from Ghana......I need another life time to list out my wishlist! 

(This lovely corner features  traditional brass South-Indian artifacts, Maasai Tribal Wedding Necklace from Kenya and Rajasthani hand painted wooden figurines.) 

I recently chanced upon Hemal Paliwal’s (a TECD blog reader) Instagram gallery and was instantly drawn to her “Global-Desi” style of decorating. Warm tones, fresh flowers, glimmer of traditional brass Indian artifacts and global treasures come together beautifully to create a warm, relaxed and authentic style in her Nairobi (Kenya) home. Sharing with you, a few corners of her beautiful living room. 

(A pair of Thai Guardian Angle "Thepanom" Kneeling Figurines add the Asian flair to this corner of the living room.)

(Hemal loves switching things up from time to time. Here she skillfully puts together blood red Heliconias in an equally vibrant blue vase. Placed on a Kutch mirror glass work runner, the Chiwara headdress fashioned out of wood by the Bamana people of Mali makes for another beautiful addition to Hemal's global collection. )

(Heirloom silk batuas that belonged to Hemal's grandmother find a special place of importance in this pattern filled vignette.)

(Brass tribal horses from Orissa look regal against the carved wood panel from Mali)

(Hemal's painting inspired by S.H.Raza adds the much needed punch to an otherwise neutral bedroom. Intricately printed Kitenge cloth is used as a throw on the bed to pull the shades of blue and reds together.)  

(On a different day, the bedroom gets a makeover by moving things around.)

(A masai water color painting by local artist Maral Bolouri paired with Alstroemeria flowers, brass Chinese incenseburner and busts of Shiva and Parvati placed ona wooden chest complete this vignette.)

 I’m sure you enjoyed the snap shots from Hemal's home……so go ahead and mix things up! Remember the only decorating rule that you should and must adhere to is to fill your home with heart and soul!

Image Credit/ Copyright: Hemal Paliwal

Paarisha by Chinanshu (Featured Artist/Shop)

Chinanshu Sharma’s creations for the Bangalore based jewelry brand "Paarisha" is deeply rooted in her endeavor to answer her “true calling”. Like most success stories of small business owners, where experimentation and following the path less traveled pays off, provided persistence, talent, passion and hard work are a part of the equation. And Chinanshu got the equation right!

During a brief sabbatical after childbirth, Chinanshu (an ex-banker) decided to pursue Jewelry designing and metal smithing at the prestigious Indian Institute of Gem & Jewelry (Jaipur). The outcome has been “Paarisha By Chinanshu”, a jewelry line that is contemporary in appeal yet celebrates the uniqueness of handmade products. Blazing colors and authenticity in design are the very essence of Paarisha, all while catering to the style aesthetics of the free spirited urban woman. The boho-chic designs are a dynamic combination of spontaneity and inventive weaves, crafting pieces that portray fluid elegance!

The word “Paarisha” translates to “a pursuer of artistic expressions”. Each piece is dexterously hand woven at Chinanshu's home based design studio where clients are met by appointment only. A one-on-one consultation with the client and an in-depth understanding of what is to be delivered is the edge that sets Paasisha apart from the other jewelry labels out there. Using a variety of materials such as silk yarn, wood, glass, silver, paper, banana fiber, raffia to weave, braid, loop and knot to create jewelry that is nothing short of being termed as wearable art. Paarisha's collection is versatile allowing them to be paired beautifully with western and Indian outfits with ease.

Chinanshu’s designs are principally driven by her surroundings and her travel experiences. Talking about her source of inspiration this is what she had to share, “The inspiration for the designs is all around me….. From small chat with strangers to big things happening all around. My mind is always taking the surrounding movements, changes and their different colors in, to give shape to them through my designs. It’s a continuous process of creativity! 

Also having a family that was constantly traveling and a dad whose work commitments took him to different parts of India, I was used to moving around from place to place, meeting new people, experiencing their native customs and traditions, seeing their traditional arts and crafts and learning from them. Much of my work is, consciously or unconsciously a reflection of these travels as Wain says, a means for me to MOVE AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR.”

Her techniques are a strong reflection of her fascination for baskets and other weaves. Quoting Chinanshu, “To me, jewelry making is very meditative, and imbibing weaves into it helps make it more intricate and beautiful! I believe baskets are a very universal product, and every culture and every region has its own signature basket that is made from indigenous material- locally grown grass, weeds, gourds, fiber, dyes, etc. using the unique weaves of the region. I’d like to learn, experiment and reinterpret that in my own way to create a Paarisha trinket.”

Browse their entire collection at Paarisha.com or drop a line to Chinanshu at  Paarishadesign@gmail.com for a Paarisha catalogue. Paarisha ships worldwide (International Shipping charges on actual rates) with payments being accepted via Paypal.You could also connect with them via their FB page for regular updates.

Thank you Chinanshu and Sanchita for taking the time to connect with TECD. Warm wishes coming your way!

Image Copyright/Credit: Paarisha

Made to Order (Home Tour)

A well curated home reveals itself one bit at a time. Every corner you turn has a story or memory waiting to unfold. This truly works as an antidote for me and makes everyday living so much more enjoyable. The Joseph's home in Kerala (India) is no different. The homeowners have reconnoitered every aspect of creating a dream home. Functionality, comfort, balancing the old with the new, working in the right amounts of color, a pinch of sassy sparkle and not to mention their personality stamped all over it. 

(Clockwise from top left : Image 1- A front view of the elevation of the home, Image 2- main door with a favorite bonsai setting the tone for what's to follow, Image 3- the front yard on a dreamy rainy day, Image 4 - more terracotta love) 

The home was originally built 30 years ago, however the Josephs decided to give their home a face-lift and took on the herculean task of renovating it, a year and a half ago. With the renovations now complete, Bindu breathes a sigh of relief and says,“It was exhausting and draining to say the least. However, I have enjoyed every aspect of the process, as we were that much closer to our objective of a bright, open and airy space.” 

As we make our way into the home, the foyer greets us with fresh blooms and the warm glow of flickering candles. The functional divider, ingeniously separates the dining hall from the family room while also serving as the family's bookcase. An antique mirror, console and brass hanging lamps dress this divider and add character to an otherwise new piece. Fresh flowers and potted plants are always a part of this arrangement, as Bindu believes that flower power is the most cheerful way to greet her guests.

Color and style wrap their arms around this gorgeous living room. Talking about their design choices and inspiration for the home, Bindu says, “The various interior magazines that I had collected over a period of ten years were our go to source for inspiration. I decided to custom make all the furniture in the house based on the ones that I had book-marked from the magazines. As for the artifacts, most of them were collected from our travels." 

The Josephs are also avid antique collectors and wanted to incorporate some favorite pieces to the architecture of the home. And as we can see, ornate antique pillars have been beautifully married into the architecture of the home, forming an almost  palatial gateway like effect into the entertainment and lounging area. 

When asked what genre of style would she like to associate her home with, Bindu shares, “I wouldn't want to categorize my style . My home is a collage of some Indian, some western and all things that my family and I love.”

Our lady takes the word "entertaining" very seriously. She goes the whole nine yards to ensure that the ambiance fosters an unforgettable experience for family and friends! Formal dinner ware, symphonic arrangement of flowers and candle light become a part of a decadent tablescape!  

At the far end of the formal dining room, a collection of colorful glass bottles dress up an octagonal shaped traditional south Indian table. Most of the bottles were brought back from the family’s travels abroad. As challenging as it may have been to bring these fragile pieces back with them, the final effect is well worth the effort!

Our next stop, is the heart of the home - the kitchen. A place where Bindu loves to spend her time cooking gustatory delicacies for her family and friends. Updated with the latest kitchen gadgets and shiny granite counter-tops, this kitchen is a gracious mix of convenience, function and design. It is lovingly sprinkled with cheerful kitchen accessories injecting interest and beauty and thus making the mundane chore of everyday cooking a pleasurable experience. 

More snap shots of everyday moments from the Joseph household.

A sneak peek into  one of the son’s rooms.....and I dare say is it is nothing less of being termed a Xanadu - Color done right, music , Suzani and an eclectic soul! Seriously, I could move into this room today;)

Bindu is a lady after my own heart. She loves changing things up every now and then and adores having little vignettes cozy up her space without looking overly busy. Flowers, glitterati effect, global finds and mood light are the ingredients that harmoniously come together to amplify the personal design style of these lovely home owners.

Bindu also channels her love for color by sprinkling her home with colorful accessories and textiles in vivid shades to reinvigorate the space. This little nook, makes me want to drop everything that I'm doing and just curl up by the window with a good read and chai. Thank you Josephs for letting us tour your beautiful home! We wish you all the very best in all that life has to offer.....

(And finally a view of the backyard with a gorgeous wall mural done by a local artist. With a swing to add to the outdoor drama, it's no surprise that the Josephs love spending a considerable amount of time outdoors.) 

With that we come to the end of our fabulous home tour. And as we can see there are no rules to decorating, only guidelines. So just have fun and allow your instincts to lead you on......

Happy decorating folks!

Images are the property of Bindu Joseph and may not be used without prior written permission.