Astha Khetan is a Rajasthan native and, as curator for the website House of Things, she has inside access to brands that make the most of the state’s gifted craft culture. While gems, handicrafts and furniture make up the usual list of takeaways, there are unique stores like Teatro Dhora, making minimalist brass jewellery, and Jaipur Modern, with their ‘modern Indian craftsmen’, in Jaipur. Here’s what Khetan thinks you should take back from the Pink City - and she insists you drop by her favourite Tapri Tea House for a steaming cuppa while you’re at it.
Suri Spoon Holder Anantaya One design brand that Khetan swears by is the Jaipur-based Anantaya, which makes everything from hand-crafted stationery to covetable decor items. Hardpressed to pick just one, she finally settles on this Suri Spoon Holder, where spun brass is combined with shisham wood to bring beauty into the functional spoon holder. At ₹2,650.
Shreenathji Pichwai The Edit Take back a pichwai, the traditional temple hanging painted with natural stone pigments on cotton cloth, to show offa piece of local heritage on your walls. This Chaubis Swaroop Ka Annakut Utsav depicts the deity of the Annakut festival, Shreenathji, and the 24 “swaroops” of the sect of the Nathdwara Temple.
Shoe Stitch Stole Andraab On everyone’s must-buy list in Jaipur, Andraab is the source of the beautifully embroidered Kashmiri shawls seen in the city. This Shoe Stitch stole in black is made of 70% cashmere and 30% silk, and is hand-embroidered with flowers and birds around the Tree of Life. At ₹44,300.
Blue Pottery Studs Sunita Shekhawat Jaipur is known, undoubtedly for its jewellery, and Khetan admits to scouring this brand’s Instagram handle for inspiration. Sunita Shekhawat is known for taking the traditional art of Meenakari and giving it her own edge. Like with these blue pottery studs, from her Neelpushpa collection, that fuses inspiration from Rajasthani havelis and the Blue Mosque in Turkey.
Gota patti lehenga Swati Ubroi ‘Don’t leave Jaipur without a gota-patti lehenga’ is Khetan’s parting advice, and we’re inclined to agree. She recommends local designer Swati Ubroi, whose extravagantly embroidered lehengas in the local tradition involve appliqué work with strips of gold or silver.
Published - December 09, 2017 03:48 pm IST