Kirath Ghundoo

Kirath Ghundoo is a surface designer based out of Northern England. She launched her first wallpaper collection, 'Mix n Match 11' at 100% Design, a design conference, last september. Kirath graduated from Leeds College of Art in 2006 with a 1st Class BA (Hons) in surface pattern and textile design. In January 2011 she went on to graduate from Huddersfield University with an MA in Textiles, scoring a distinction.

Kirath primarily works within a digital format.The wallpaper is a juxtaposition of mercurial pastel hued geometric prints that can be mixed and matched, making it eclectic in styling. The rolls are designed to be applied in a 'drop, cut, paste' technique that make it more sustainable , while limiting wastage. An element of surprise is added in how they can be combined, making it schizo fabulous.

Kirath also designs fashion fabrics, iPhone sleeves , magazines and lampshades to name a few. Her collections are represented worldwide through a number of stockists in Paris, Germany and New Zealand. 

Rajni Perera

Rajini Perera's paintings focus intensely on the female body's form, drawing heavily from south asian miniature painting traditions and combining them with the strange and psychedelic. Her foray into visual psychotropia is embellished with indian goddesses eschewed from their ornate backdrops and pitted against stark white frames, while riding on dinosaurs. In another of her works, a voluptuous brown woman adorned in golden panties has her innards on display as her layers are literally peeled back like that of a Russian doll.

Sri lankan born Rajni Perera, is Toronto based. Her Art explores issues of hybridity, sacrilege, irreverence, Indexical sciences and ethnography, sexuality, popular culture, deities and monsters. She says they are, "Intensely labored and immaculately conceived. Spiritual and whimsical, a pooja and a porno at the same time." 

MASALA CHAI bawa road

Anvita Jain

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

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

 

 "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

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

Diana Linda

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

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

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

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

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