The Navy Blue of India is Indeed Hot Pink
August 24, 2010
Our guest blogger from Mala Handmade, Richa shares her favorite discoveries from her visit to THE prettiest showroom in Jaipur called Hot Pink!
P.S: Just a note that the Hot Pink house line is on sale Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!) on Exclusively.In.
Pink walls, grand forts, the Hawa Mahal: Jaipur has good reason to be a top tourist destination in India and a go-to backdrop for romantic Bollywood movies. I always visit the old city when I’m in Jaipur and make time to visit the palaces in the hills – but during my last trip to the famed pink city, I made sure to stop by the gardens of Narain Niwas, a charming palace turned hotel in the heart of Jaipur. I told those accompanying me that I wanted to visit the historical building, but readers, I had a hidden agenda: Hot Pink. A beautiful boutique located in the hotel’s shopping arcade, Hot Pink is one of the Jaipur’s first modern concept boutiques, which showcases India’s top fashion, accessories, and home decor designers in a contemporary space. (Another location has recently opened in Mumbai).
Hot Pink is set up like a chic Indian apartment: white-washed walls with pops of color showcasing clothes that are wearable in the U.S. but constructed with traditional Indian handicraft techniques. The store was founded by French jeweler Marie-Helene de Taillac, who first made her name creating modern, colorful precious jewelry crafted by master Jaipur jewelers who still utilize techniques used for Maharajas. Self-described as French by birth but Indian by adoption, Hot Pink’s selection of India’s top designers (and on-trend house line) highlights that Jaipur’s great shopping isn’t confined to traditional designs but also has an eye for the future, and it’s inspirational to see how beautiful simple, western silhouettes can be when made with colorful textiles. For those who can’t make it to all the way to Jaipur just yet, but find themselves halfway there in Paris, Marie-Helene de Taillac’s designs are available in France with an accessible collaboration with French retailer Bon Marche.
source: Hot Pink India
by ST in Accessories, Art, Bag, Beauty, Fashion, Gifts, Global, Home Decor, India, Inspiration, Jewelry, Lifestyle, Mala Handmade, Textiles
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Jeanette Farrier Handmade Global Design
August 13, 2010
The New York International Gift Fair starts tomorrow! This is the ultimate gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, where new design trends will make their mark. Jeanette Farrier sent us a few ‘sneak peak’ images from her new collection. Having spent 9 months in Kolkata, Jeanette say she has “researched, developed, sampled, perused and altogether experienced some amazingly beautiful new products, which explore fabric, and colour more than ever before.” Richa from Mala Handmade gives us her take on Jeanette’s indian-inspired goodies…
The line has expended this month to feature pom-pomed scarves that are all the rage in a variety of luscious colors. Fabrics range from cotton and silk to Indian khadi, a locally produced natural cotton weave. Natural linen placemats and napkins come in pretty hand block prints that brighten up any table. And of course, the kantha throws anchor the collection with the colorful stitches visible on the vintage sari fabrics. So head west…and explore the new styles! It’s the Indian version of a great American tradition.
source: Jeanette Farrier
by ST in Accessories, Gifts, Global, Handmade, Home Decor, India, London, Textiles Facebook this Tweet this Email this- 0 Comments
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Blue Banyan Gives Rural Craftsmen Global Audience
August 12, 2010
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
by ST in Gifts, Handmade, India, Jewelry Facebook this Tweet this Email this- 0 Comments
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Get Exclusive with Hard to Find, Indian Designers
August 10, 2010
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
by ST in Accessories, Art, Beauty, Fashion, Gifts, Global, Home Decor, India, Jewelry, Textiles, Wedding Facebook this Tweet this Email this- 1 Comment
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Old Charm Bridesmaid Dress
March 6, 2009
You know I LOVE vintage! Look at these vintage inspired gowns in different hues of carmel and peach. Designer Ashley Robello designed these delicate gowns for Amrita Arora’s bridesmaid. I like the fact that they are not over the top. Simply put – simple, stylish, and elegant!
source: via High Heel Confidential
by ST in India, Wedding Facebook this Tweet this Email this- 0 Comments
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August 10, 2010 at 1:51 pm
This sounds like fun. thanks for sharing!!