Archive for August, 2010

Blue Banyan Gives Rural Craftsmen Global Audience

Hi everyone, it’s Richa from Mala Handmade again starting off today’s posts with thoughts about shopping in the recession. There have been a lot of recent articles using the current economic climate as a backdrop to simpler living, including living with (and shopping for) fewer possessions, which seems wise – and difficult – in our consumer culture. It’s a good time to reflect on stuffed closets and cluttered credit cards, but while some things (read: jewelry) seem like needless luxuries to many, they aren’t to me. Handicrafts, jewelry, clothes are all art to me, so while I make a conscious effort to not throw out one object only to replace it with another, I believe in supporting local designers and craft industries.

One way support a love of handmade goods is purchasing from social entrepreneurs like Shuchi Pandya. She founded her jewelry line, Blue Banyan, in 2008 and uses traditional Indian techniques to create modern pieces crafted by rural artisans across India, many of whom are the last practicing artisans of these dying arts. The line ranges from exquisite silver earrings molded in lak or tree sap, to wooden bangles encrusted with vibrant jewels, or to silver pendants painted with crushed glass and threaded on rare beads – and carried by some of India’s best stores like Bombay Electric (my new favorite int’l shop) and Fab India. For those residing stateside, Pandya has returned to Philadelphia to expand online sales with a special collection in September!!!!  Be sure to check out the Indian couture site, Exclusively.in, where Blue Banyan will carry discounted pieces soon. Love a bargain!

source: Blue Banyan

Facebook this    Tweet this    Email this

0 Comments

0

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Comedy Film with Delicious Indian-inspired Bites

One of my friends just emailed me a link to this new indie flick for Today’s Special starring Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, The Last Airbender) and Madhur Jaffrey, international award-winning actress and bestselling author of Indian cookbooks. The cast is fantastic and has been an audience favorite at film festivals and screenings. Who would ever think of mixing comedy with Indian food: ) I love this combo!

Today’s Special will release in over 200 theaters nationally on October 8th. Here is a full review of Today’s Special.

source: Today’s Special FaceBook

Facebook this    Tweet this    Email this

1 Comment

1

• Gagan says:
  August 13, 2010 at 2:39 pm
  

  Any movie with Naseeruddin shah & madhur jaffery would be a must watch! Looking forward to it now! the last good Indie movie was bend it like beckham, but gawsh did gurinder chadha disappoint after that!!!!

  Thanks for sharing!

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Get Exclusive with Hard to Find, Indian Designers

Hi everyone, it’s Richa from Mala Handmade here today with thoughts about…hunting. Have you ever coveted an expensive dress only to find it on the rack at second markdown? Or dug through a unpromising pile of wares only to find a gem in your size? It’s always nice to score a designer steal, but bargain hunting often means sifting through disorganized piles – until now. A slew of websites have recreated the sample sale experience online, enticing buyers with deeply discounted designer goods accessible from your home computer (or secretly at your office desk)! Sites like Gilt, Haute Look, and Ideeli recreate the sample sale experience by hosting daily sales that feature a rotating cast of designers. Gilt, for example, may pair a high-end brand like Marni with a more contemporary brand (and lower price point) and accessories sale to lure a range of buyers and tastes. Ideedi offers spas treatments and trips to their selection of clothes and accessories.

Nearly every site requires free “membership,” which isn’t really exclusive but necessitates a log-in to view and purchase items. But there are policies worth noting. The very popular Gilt, for examples, hosts most of its clothing sales at noon daily and items you add to your “cart” are held for ten minutes – but returns are for store credit only, which is a nearly universal policy for these sites. Add the time crunch to the return policy and you could end up with less of a bargain on your credit statement. One good way to avoid a sour sale is to stick with familiar brands where you know your size and the quality.

However, it’s hard to put this in practice with my favorite new site, Excusively.In, which brings Indian designers stateside through the same auction format. I’m always on the lookout for modern Indian-inspired clothing and Exclusively.In features sought after labels direct from Mumbai and Delhi – without the plane ticket. I love the range of designers and goods, which includes pop art books about India and vintage Bollywood posters. Since you probably won’t know what size you are in an Anupamaa (http://anupamaa.com/) dress, it’s important to check the size description before you buy (though typical Indian silhouettes, like tunics, are relatively easy to have altered).

Happy hunting!

source: Exclusively.In

Facebook this    Tweet this    Email this

1 Comment

1

• Gagan says:
  August 10, 2010 at 1:51 pm
  

  This sounds like fun. thanks for sharing!!

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

GiGi’s Online Vintage Boutique

Hi everyone, it’s Richa from MalaHandmade! Today’s post starts with fashion wisdom from Heidi Klum: one day you’re in, the next day you’re out. But I’ll add that what’s out is destined to be trendy again — like vintage clothing. I loved (and still do!) raiding my mom’s closet for anything she would let me get my hands on. While fashion is always recycling past trends, for me there’s no substitute for authentic pieces from the past. Not only have some methods of garment construction been rendered obsolete, but the colors, prints, and even wear-and-tear of real pieces from the past are irreplaceable.

That’s where Gurmeet Grewal comes in. Her online vintage clothing boutique, GiGi Vintage, launched this year and offers a variety of clothes, accessories, and shoes from the 1920′s to 1990′s. Every item is unique and handpicked during trips around the world. While I’m still in denial that the 90′s is considered vintage, Gigi Vintage is well-curated for current trends. If you love the broad shoulders that have trickled down from Balenciaga to Rihanna and now retail worldwide, many of her dresses hit the mark. And after seasons of denying the romper trend, the raindrops print playsuit is adorable. Grewal makes a good argument for vintage pieces as sustainable fashion: wearing and buying vintage often captures catwalk trends at a fraction of the cost – with the bonus of being the real thing.

Sign up for GiGi’s newsletter and get 15% off your first order!

source: GiGi Vintage

Facebook this    Tweet this    Email this

1 Comment

1

• Build Shed says:
  January 8, 2011 at 8:35 pm
  

  I really enjoyed the resources shared on this blog. God bless.

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Indian Inspired Font

I found this Indian inspired typeface through Fly.  I love Andrea and her blog. One of my favorites places to go for inspiration.

Andrea’s classmate friend, Beth Shirrell has equally amazing talent designing this Kalakari font, which means ornamentation in Hindi.  Beth describes below what led to the inspiration from India…

“I explored typographic expression by creating a display font that captures and reflects the ornate culture of India. Specifically taking impetus from the country’s architecture, the ancient art of henna painting, and Hindu iconography. The font is a collection of 26 majuscule forms that make up the English alphabet. Kalakari translates from Hindi to English to mean ornamentation.” via fly




source: Beth Shirrell

Facebook this    Tweet this    Email this

1 Comment

1

• prutha says:
  October 13, 2010 at 10:50 am
  

  just bumped into ur blog…love it!!!!!!! and i want this font!!!

  http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website