Showtime!

Bringing to you some lovely entrepreneurs, new brands and beautiful products in a two part post. Discover, enjoy and encourage these new creative peeps on the block!

~ Aiyana ~

Aiyana, is a special program initiated by the Umeed Foundation to revive traditional skills as a sustainable enterprise for women in rural Punjab. The design team at Aiyana works with these women artisans to help revive and promote intricate handwork like crochet, embroidery and phulkari. These beautiful products are available via some online shop like IndianRoots and Pernia's Pop Up Shop, and also some retail outlets in Delhi.
(Links: Aiyana, Aiyana on facebook)

~ Varnam ~

Karthik Vaidyanathan's Varnam, has been working with artisans in Channapatna for over two years now to reinterpret the very colorful and vibrant toy craft. The result has been a series of designs in toys, jewelry and home accents. Varnam's brilliant products are available online, at some select stores in various cities and now also at Varnam's flagship store in Bangalore.
(Links: Varnam, Varnam on facebook)

~ My Vintage Bicyclette ~

I love bicycles! And so do Fiona & Idriss. The couple, based in Pondicherry, have launched My Vintage Bicyclette, where they pretty up and customize bicycles. Working with local artists and craftsmen, they offer handmade accessories for bicycles like vintage leather saddles, grips & hand painted ring bells. And fully customized bicycle in patterns, shapes and colors inspired by Indian pop culture.

(Links: My Vintage Bicyclette, On facebook)

~ Lai ~

My perennial favorite jewelry brand Lai, has launched 'bookmarkable rakhis' to it's beautiful collection this festive season. Intricately designed rakhis, that can later be used as bookmarks - such a brilliant idea to recycle and to preserve a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

(Links: Lai)
~ Indian Colours ~

Indian Colours is the brainchild of Jasmine Shah Varma, a former journalist who now curates art and creates art products. Working with select contemporary artists, Jasmine adapts their art to create objects of daily utility; the idea being to leverage a well designed functional object in a manner that familiarizes people with contemporary art and aesthetics. Indian Colours retails via it's online store as well as select stores in Bombay and Pune.
(Links: Indian Colours, On facebook)

~ Kalavilasa ~

Vivek Shrivastava, after working in the IT industry for twenty years, decided to work leave the corporate life to become a social entrepreneur. He founded Kalavilasa, working with weavers of dhurries, carpets and kilims. Kalavilasa exhibits in various craft exhibitions and you can find them at the upcoming Dastkar mela in Bangalore. They also undertake custom orders for interior projects and architects.
(Links: Kalavilasa, On facebook)
Get your cup of coffee or tea, for there is another post with some awesome young designers coming up!

(All images: An Indian Summer & respective designers)
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