Tia Pakhi

Tia Pakhi is a popular label in many households that love Indian textiles, traditions, culture and craft. The French designer of Tia Pakhi, Anais Basu, exposed her fans to a beautiful blend of colours, craft and textile traditions. Her collection is pure joy and diverse. I am completely smitten on how she has brought out the simplicity and elegance of traditional Kantha embroidery on clothes, accessories and home linen. Her passion for textile and her love for India’s rich cultural heritage are definitely reflected in her collection.  I love the way she has translated the old vintage designs with new and made it classy and chic. It’s hard for me to describe what I see and feel … so here have a look!!

 

 

Too much eye candy right? Let’s move on to hear more from Anais and her love for Tia Pakhi

Anais, tell us a bit about you…. Your journey that brought you to India…Have you had any formal design background?

I studied Fashion and textile design in Paris. My dream was to visit India to discover its rich textile heritage and culture. My design sensibility was always attracted to natural yarns and bright colours. With my diploma in my pocket I flew to India for the first time in 2006 for an internship in a textile export-house in Calcutta. Although I had read and informed myself a lot before coming it was an overwhelming experience when I arrived! I very quickly knew I would be happy here. Little did I know that I would not only fall in love with the textiles but with the man of my life! This is how few years down the line I am living in Calcutta with my husband, my beautiful 10month old daughter and a TIA PAKHI :) 

 

Why the name Tia Pakhi? How did it all begin?

Although in my first internship I was developing designs for computerized embroideries, it is on my personal time that I got the chance to discover more of the handcrafts and textiles techniques of embellishment. Kantha embroidery immediately attracted my eye for its simplicity yet great intricacy. I loved the texture it lends to the fabric and how it gives vibrancy to a simple design. I then got the chance to develop few samples of designs for my own portfolio with some artisan I had been introduced to. It was the first step in conceptualizing TIA PAKHI a brand of textiles dedicated to reviving and contemporizing Kantha embroidery. 

TIA PAKHI is the Bengali word for the green Parrots which used to fly around the region of Bengal. They're also disappearing slowly as many handcrafts. I liked this name for its easy pronunciation in many languages and the parrot of course represents the exotic and colourful aspect of my work. TIA PAKHI could sound like a designer's name if one doesn't know the language. In fact I occasionally receive emails addressed to me as "dear TIA PAKHI " :)

Where do you draw your inspirations for your designs? Tell us a bit about your collection.

I mainly draw inspiration from Nature, Architecture, vintage ethnic textiles. Colour is my great passion. I can spend hours selecting colours and looking for new combinations. 

I also love paintings and illustrations. Free hand colourful drawings from various illustrators and painters. An organic and free style which makes designs so lively. 

My latest collection is inspired by lush tropical foliages intermingling and intertwined with some accent pieces such as Toucans or butterflies, adding some movement and liveliness to this green setting. 

 

How would you describe your design style and do you have a signature touch with your designs?

My design style is firstly very colourful! I choose specifically minimalist designs in order to enhance the handwork and the colour combinations. I feel that these are the key points of my work. I love bold and rounded designs in large sizes with colour blocking and a hint of humour. 

 

What is your big dream for Tia Pakhi?

My big dream for TIA PAKHI would be to open a store in Paris. I would like more people from that side of the world to know about the beautiful handwork done here in India yet with a style they can easily apply to contemporary setting. 

What décor tips would you like to give my readers?

My decor tip would be: not to follow any rules but create the ambiance that you love. I feel it is mostly the care and personality that one puts in his home which makes the difference which makes it inviting. I am a fan of very eclectic homes with a mix and match of different styles and objects from different periods and places.

 

Thanks Anais for sharing your passion and journey with us!!

If you get to Calcutta, please make sure you visit her boutique. From what I gather she has tastefully decorated her store and I hope I get to visit her boutique one day!! Click here to browse through her website or here to visit her Facebook page.


Images via Tia Pakhi


 

Paisley Pinwheels

My knees go weak when I see dresses for baby girls, hair accessories, bows and other accessories. Paisley Pinwheels is one such stop that offers a large selection of baby accessories, unique clothes for newborns, play-wear, fancy dress costumes and offer personalized creations.

 

 

 

Koryn Wright, a promising entrepreneur, is the brain behind this venture. Here is what Koryn had to share about her passion… over to you Koryn…

 

"My name is Koryn Wright. I'm originally from Houston, TX but my family and I have been living in the Middle East for the past 4 years. I'm a self-taught seamstress with a passion for creating new things and love being able to use creative thought in forming new designs for my costumes, clothing and accessories. My "custom creations" are one-of-a-kind and can be suited to most everyone's taste.

My inspiration for Paisley Pinwheels is my daughter. It came about that while we were living in Dubai, people would stop me almost every time we were out and ask where I purchased the hair accessories I put on my daughter, as an infant. These stretch bands were homemade...I've always had a "crafty" side, as this blessing comes from my mother, the queen of all things creative. So afterwards, we moved to Muscat and I figured that there was a need for whimsical accessories and clothing there as much as there was in Dubai...and so Paisley Pinwheels was born."

 

 

 

 

Click here to view her facebook page for updates and here to access her website. And if you have any enquiries you can email her at info@paisleypinwheels.com .

Images via Paisley Pinwheels

Mrunal’s Boutique

Recently I had the pleasure to meet Mrunal Khimji, a fashion designer and consultant based here in Oman, who is constantly stimulated by creativity and boundless talent. Mrunal was trained as a jewelry designer at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York and pursued her career at Rosy Blue, an international jewellery firm as a product developer and designer. But her love and passion, besides theatre, has always been to design clothes. And that’s how Mrunal’s Boutique was formed which is located in Qurum, Muscat. Mrunal creates unique one-off pieces, works on private orders and provides consultation on designs to her clients that suit their style and body. Her diverse collection ranges from corporate wear to cocktail dresses, traditional to modern, casual to party wear, beautiful Indian ethnic wear to Dhofari dresses. As I browsed through her collection, I realised she had an elegant mix of styles that were feminine and unique and her choice of fabrics brings in a sense of luxury and sophistication. She has a team of embroiders and tailors who caters to customized work and exquisite embroidery.  And to top it all up the interiors of the boutique is stylishly done up and it showed that personal style and interiors go hand in hand.

 

 

 

 

Besides clothes Mrunal’s boutique also showcases jewelry and footwear designed by her friends.

 

 

 

If you would like to get in touch with Mrunal Khimji to know more about her work you can email her at mrunalsboutique@mosaic.om and click here to access her website or here for Mrunal’s Boutique facebook page.

Stay tuned to view her upcoming collection!

Images are clicked by me

Templetree - the Paper Boutique

Graphic Designer, Sonali Maniar loves to work with pattern, colour, texture, prints and create products with paper for everyday use and this passion led her to open a Paper Boutique called Templetree. The store is based in Bombay and has been polular since 2006 and now they have spread their wings to Bangalore. The designs on paper products like greeting cards, gift wrap, scrapbooks, gift boxes, gift bag are fun, colourful and full of joy.


If you share my love for stationery you are definitely going to enjoy these artistic designs on Paper, including Diwali boxes and tealight holders, as the festival is around the corner.

Click here to visit their website and here to visit their facebook page. If you have any enquiry you can write to templetreepaper@gmail.com


Images via Templetree

Kooki & Zee

Kooki & Zee a Muscat based brand which was launched a few months back, introduced an array of accessories and clothes. This dazzling product line is run by Kuthaira (Kooki) and Zahra (Zee) and their inspiration comes from travelling to different countries and experiencing their culture. Their brand is deeply rooted to elegance, ease and an understated yet strong sense of self expression. I personally love their clothes and jewelry because of its exclusivity.

Their collection is available at Boutique Muscat in Jawaharat A’Shatti, Shatti al Qurum. Click here to explore their facebook page and be updated with their product line. Feel free to contact them at Kookiandzee@gmail.com and phone +968 - 94022301.


Images via Kooki & Zee

Kalaniketan: Ethnic Fine Art Boutique

Kalaniketan is an exclusive boutique in Cochin for Lucknowi Chikan work on fabric. I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful designer and owner of this boutique, Honey Vijayan, who has been in this venture for the past 16 years. This boutique offers a variety of sarees, salwar materials, readymade short kurtas and even shirts and kurtas for men. It was so hard for me to stop shopping there! The varieties of embroideries on sarees are worth checking out. This store definitely offers the best chikan art work on clothes in Cochin.

Click here if you would like to know more about Chikan embroidery

Designer Honey Vijayan in news

I fell in love with the small garden in front of this boutique which was ethnically done up and I couldn’t resist myself from clicking pictures.

If you wish to get in touch with designer Honey Vijayan, you can call her at 0091-9388604367.


Images are clicked by me

Boutique Muscat

Boutique Muscat is all about exclusivity. It’s inspired by local and worldwide talent. Their vision is to sell brands that are not available in Oman and most of their brands are from the United States. Each product is unique in their own way and they have limited stock of each design. They sell a wide variety ranging of shoes, tops to accessories.

Their boutique is so tastefully done up. If you get a chance to visit them, i guarantee you will walk out with a Boutique Muscat product. Meanwhile enjoy their Online Store and their Facebook page .


Images via Boutique Muscat