MASALA CHAI : The first and only blog featuring South Asian Art and Design from around the world !

Anvita Jain

2011-09-15T02:02:00.001+05:30

The incredible Anvita Jain is from Delhi . She is currently pursuing an MFA in Graphic Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan, USA. Her colourful chaos interlaced with stark , graphic piranhas, parrots with penile tails and phallic fish is all very interesting to me. So are ducks who's bodies are filled with gray matter.

Sangeeta Sandrasegar

2011-09-15T01:42:00.003+05:30

I've always been a fan of Sangeeta Sandrasegar's delicate and morbid imagery. The paper cutouts, so fantastic and organic in their form ,often draw their inspiration from verbose old text or poetry. This one speaks of a possessed woman who sets out to consume that which she nurtured, as the tables turn and she is the one being consumed. Death can be pretty. Sandrasegar is based out of Melbourne. She has been featured on MASALA CHAI before, here.

Radha Dumra

2011-09-15T01:18:00.004+05:30

"Slick neo goth womenswear for fashion-forward individuals who understand how the understated modesty of monochrome combined with the sharp angular cuts can change the silhouette of a woman's body and create an impact.The clothes are quietly content to be seen and not heard on the bodies of the brave. Designed exclusively for those who are bold, feel strong, proud and in control. Make your own unapologetic statement. Rebel, and decide for yourself, even though your path is blocked by millions of people out there who have been uniformly convinced of an opposing idea" , Claims the fabulous London based Radha Dumra The hairy detailing does it for me.

Karan Singh

2011-05-05T03:43:00.000+05:30

Revisit the creative genius of Sydney based Karan Singh, who I've featured before. Superb! Mr.Singh.

Caitanya

2011-04-18T01:53:00.000+05:30

Jushmi Barooah graduated from The Chelsea College of Art and Design, London . With seven years of experience in the field of Design and an exposure to international expression of art and design, she started Caitanya . ‘Caitanya’ a Sanskrit expression, means consciousness. Versatile,modern and minimalistic jewellery with an architectural edge, Caitanya’s jewellery is unconventional, adding an individual, bold streak to your sense of style.

Beautifully crafted in sterling silver and 18 carat vermeil gold with semi precious stones, the collection expands in to a complete range of cocktail rings, layered chains, statement bangles and earrings.

As an initial step 2% of sale proceeds of select products will be donated to BAL ASHRAM an initiative of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

exquisite pieces from Caitanya are available at the MASALA CHAI store , Chennai

Diana Linda

2011-04-18T01:48:00.000+05:30

Diana Linda is an expatriate living in India .She used to work with the international NGO, Doctors Without Borders for eight years before she decided to follow her passion for designing.Now she crafts a variety of products ranging from bags, fashion accessories, pouches, jewellery, belts, decorated stockings, shoes, ornamental jackets, and home décor items.

Inspired mainly by India and its vibrant colours, her work spells Mumbai-Bombay- Bollywood with its pop culture, kitsch and drama. Her work uses various techniques like decoupage and recycling. Her gorgeous bollywood boots are available at the MASALA CHAI store, Chennai.

FLINTS

2011-03-17T10:53:00.000+05:30

FLINTS is the underground creative outburst straight from the Pondicherry based design studio IMPPRINTZ run by Rahul Sureka.

Here is a range of funky graphic handmade paper products by FLINTS featuring DiGiTaLkOnG.

Completely printed by hand, each product is unique and has the essence of a fleeting spontaneity. The appeal is minimal+bold+earthy. DiGiTaLkOnG is a bold pixel character, grooving to an electronic beat, banging on his bongo wherever he goes. His edgy manner is quite addictive as he grabs attention.

The line starts with a KonGsizeBOX a utility board box, KonGpenStanD, a handy stationery stand to put a bounce to your day, and HanGaKonG, hang him around and get into his Groove instantly.

FLINTS is available at MASALA CHAI, Chennai

Tote-ally

2011-03-17T10:43:00.000+05:30

I loved Shreya Shanbag's idea to encourage eco chic. It's not easy being green and completely stylish simultaneously. Tote-ally achieves this effortlessly. Here's their sales pitch:

Shopping is fun. What's more fun? Responsible shopping. Keeping a Tote-ally tote handy, will not do you any harm. But it will sure do the planet a whole lotta good! Made from 100% bio-degradable cotton, these totes are here to stay.What's more? They come with a promise to love you long time! Tote-ally is here to make Right all the plastic bag's Wrongs. Though the damage cannot be undone, it can definitely be controlled hereon.So do what's right.

Choose Green.Think Green. Be green!

Stay tuned for cool new additions to the Tote-ally family. Till then, Shop with Tote-ally!

Available at the MASALA CHAI store , Chennai.

ELLE magazine

2011-03-14T20:33:00.000+05:30

Elle magazine did a piece on me in the March issue , 2011. I flew to Mumbai for the photoshoot. I was treated like a celebrity by the creative team at ELLE. Such an amazing moment. And to think it started with a blog :)

Item Number

2011-02-28T13:23:00.000+05:30

I'm a personal fan of what the fabulous guys at Item Number do. Yes, its full blown in your face bollywood kitsch. Are you a shy wallflower who quotes Sylvia Plath? Yeah, this isn't for you. But if you're the sort who can mix her chic with her kitsch, look no further. The name Item Number should be indication of how these accessories will put you centre stage, social spot light. Celebrate your inner diva - it's time to make a statement.

Item number is a Mumbai based company run by artist/designer due Inder & Arif.

Available @ MASALA CHAI, Chennai

Kya Cheez Hai

2011-02-28T13:11:00.000+05:30

The people at Kya Cheez Hai are all about putting the fun into functional .Their first range of Magnets, USBs and paperclips/bookmarks all feature moustaches - an essential of you want to retain any sort of credibility at work. Or not . KCH , is a two people team of designers based out of Bangalore, who came together to create a range of utilitarian objects that make you smile. Cant wait to see what they do next!

Grab yours at the MASALA CHAI store in Chennai .

Valentines day picks!

2011-02-08T21:17:00.001+05:30

Chennai based bag designer Aishwarya Srikkanth featured the MASALA CHAI store, in her 'Valentines day picks' section. Do come by our store for a selection of the above knick-knacks features.

Via Shopping link magazine.

The MASALA CHAI store

2011-02-08T17:50:00.000+05:30

Come visit :)

MASALA CHAI
11 Second Street
Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai
Mylapore
Chennai 600004
Tamilnadu. INDIA

New Indian Express - Feb 2011

2011-02-08T16:51:00.000+05:30

A link to the article : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-kids-on-the-blog/746520/0

Ruchi Mohinder

2011-01-10T14:51:00.001+05:30

Ruchi Mohinder is an architect/ transit planner by day and an aspiring jewelry designer in her freetime. Even though she is based in Arlington, VA, she is very closely rooted to her Indian heritage. So, I try to use my unique perspective in my jewelry designs. "I experiment with various materials (polymer clay, beads, metal, fabrics) and techniques to create affordable and unique jewelry. I like to call it wearable art"

All pieces are handmade and range from vintage to modern designs.Visit her online store here.

Sofia Niazi

2011-01-10T12:10:00.000+05:30

Love Sofia Niazi's quirky batik illustrations. London based Pakistani Niazi is also a comic book illustrator. "With my illustrations I normally limit myself to just using a black pen and I have a pretty clear idea of what image I’m going to make, but with painting it’s a completely different process. I don’t have anything to say when I start painting, my eyes and hands seem to have their own idea about what they’re going to show me. I’ve always had problems with using colour so batik is perfect for me; I treat the canvas like a massive colouring book. I draw outlines, with flour paste, of any images that pop into my head, then when its dry I just go for any colours I can mix, I have one rule though, no using the same colour twice, each one is different, even if only slightly. Once the painting in done then I can start thinking about what I can say with it, I find images which interact nicely with what’s on the canvas, this adds another meaning or builds on the mood of the painting." More at her website.

Via Vogue: NorBlack NorWhite

2011-01-04T14:16:00.000+05:30

Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya were friends but more appropriately sisters.

They spent more time with each other through fun projects they created and produced together. From their first homemade fashion shoots, to shows, pop up sales and styling their artist friends, these two little Indian women who grew up in Toronto, realized their union for similar aesthetics and all things old. Falling in love with each others shawls after realizing they were both wearing their mothers’ pieces, they knew there was something more to this brewing sisterhood. Amrit’s reworked vintage pieces were respected in Toronto and fueled her to keep creating pretty new designs from old gems. Mriga’s love for accessories patterns and vintage kept her style fresh and sparked her wide eyes. Both ladies have created based on what they know and learned through doing and not on what they’ve formally been taught.They shifted to Bombay, 2 years ago where they gave birth to NorBlack NorWhite. NorBlack NorWhite is a journey to explore India and its history through textiles, art and adventures. While learning about thèse art trades, regions and people we are excited to create designs and also share the knowledge of ancient practices. This project falls into a grey space of Part anthropology, part art, part fashion.

Each collection will be exploring selected regions that we want to discover further. SpringSummer2011 is created based on the Kutch region of Gujarat. "We focused on bandhani (tie-dye practices) as the heart of this season"

via Vogue

Via Vogue: Meera Sethi

2010-12-29T14:55:00.000+05:30

Meera Sethi is an Indian-born, Toronto-based artist whose multi-disciplinary work explores the relationship between material and nonmaterial culture. With a particular emphasis on fashion, migration and identity, her practice references Indian art, design and culture to create vibrant, detailed, pattern art.Using a palette of brilliantly saturated tones, an array of bold patterns, finely rendered detail, and an even, meticulous application of paint, Meera’s aesthetic explores the cross over desi aesthetic, with a graphic illustrative interpretation.In her Firangi Rang Barangi (Hindi for "colourful foreigner") series (2009-current), she explores the relationship between femininity, dress and identity to produce a hybrid sense of style that is deeply rooted in a diasporic, transnational experience . In this work, while clothing and ornamentation boldly capture our attention, the bodies underneath remain barely visible thus emphasizing the role of sartorial expression in creating a sense of self.Finding inspiration in contemporary fashion, Eastern textiles and Mughal miniatures, each piece in this series references iconic objects of dress design from the East and West. Like much of her work, these large acrylic paintings on paper are characterized by a strong graphic painting technique and a fearless use of colour.

Jayesh Sivan

2010-12-23T11:22:00.001+05:30

Bangalore based Jayesh Sivan is currently working as a Graphic Designer and illustrator. Specialized in Brand Identity, Brand Strategy, Brand Architecture, Illustration and Photography , hi line of hand drawn, customized 'funk flip flops' are inspired by his travels, sketches and photographs. Get your funk on!

Available at MASALA CHAI store, Chennai

Via Vogue : Karishma Shahani

2010-12-20T16:35:00.001+05:30

The avidly blogged Yatra collection from inventive young designer Karishma Shahani is a sartorial anthology of statement pieces, juxtaposed to create a look reminiscent of the bohemian traveler. With interesting stories to tell, Yatra is a vibrant explosion of colourful fabrics fashioned into jackets, tunics, trapeze blouses and pants with cut work and beautiful embroidery. The intensely detailed garments reflect the chaos and colour of the streets of India; Shahani's homeland.

Each ensemble is a careful layering of naturally dyed ombre fabrics, embroidered, shagged, twisted and piped into playful rainbow wearable soft sculptures. Each piece is versatile in its wearability, to make for a whimsical gypsy of the world.

Karishma Shahani has a BA (hons) in Fashion: Design & Technology from The London College of Fashion

Via Vogue.in

Rachana Reddy

2010-12-03T14:04:00.000+05:30

Rachana Reddy Accessories was born out of the creative passion of bringing forth avant-garde fashion accessories,artful concepts & detailing to life.Conceptualized, designed by Rachana, the clutches are handcrafted by skilled local artisans. A believer that accessories are an inspiring medium of individualistic expression,she ensures each of them is a piece of art and a piece of luxury .

The debut collection 2010 called the “Lotus Sutra” intends to be artistically evocative & inspiring.The line predominantly consists of wooden clutches with traditional accents such as lotus, paisleys, jali work etched and carved into them delicately & filled in with luxurious fabrics ,all put together with a contemporary touch.

Rachana Reddy clutches available at the MASALA CHAI store, Chennai

Free Spirit

2010-11-25T17:01:00.002+05:30

Suhana Medappa is a textile designer who works out of Bangalore. Using a combination of fabric and prints is her specialty. Having graduated from the Srishti school of Art, Design and Technology she realized that experimental screen print was her forte. After a stint with Satya Paul as a textile designer in Gurgaon she moved back to Bangalore to start her own exploration with screen printing and thus began the journey towards Free Spirit. Free Spirit is the brand of printed clothing and home furnishing designed and printed by The PRINT Journal a company set up by Suhana in 2010.

Free Spirit scarves & stoles available at the MASALA CHAI store , Chennai

Pigflower

2010-11-19T11:21:00.001+05:30

Pigflower is a t-shirt company based out of Bangalore, India. Our products are characterized by funky artwork derived from a pool of designers and artists from all around the block. Although the primary focus is on design, the company believes in putting out stuff that feels great to wear. Pigflower tees are made using good fabrics and popular for their striking colours and perfect fits. We love t-shirts and it shows in our work!

Available at the MASALA CHAI store, Chennai

Suman Mishra

2010-11-13T16:34:00.001+05:30

Suman Mishra is a Delhi-based jewelry designer.Suman's design sensibility is heavily influenced by traditional jewelry from several cultures across the world. Tibetan, Rana Tharu (Nepal), Aztec, Ancient Egyptian, Etruscan and Masai (Africa) Jewelry are some of the chief inspirational starting points for her. "The time-tested silhouettes make sense each time," she says. "They have a natural harmony that is aesthetically sound, which I want to bring into my designs."

The natural colors of gemstones also help in her design process. Suman likes to have fun with textures in Silver as well as eclectic and unusual combinations in gemstones. She often creates one-off pieces. Suman is self-taught.

Available @ the MASALA CHAI Store , Chennai

SODA

2010-11-13T16:32:00.000+05:30

SODA is a stylish, bold, quirky and fun lifestyle brand that will electrify your interiors with its riot of colours and innovatively designed furnishing.SODA was started by Sai Sangeet Paliwal as it gave her the creative freedom to play around with her unique ideas of space-definition and design, while breaking away from the stereotypical monotony of contemporary design houses. Sangeet and SODA have a bubbly and energetic dialogue together, and in turn, the brand is an extension of her expression.