Birds

While I was a child, I would observe sparrows from our veranda, their movements and chirping were naturally synchronised. Parrots in their bright plumage, screeching-by in riotous unison would fascinate me to no end. I would climb the Guava tree in our back yard and find numerous fruits half eaten by them. Then during schooling at Wynberg Allen, my brush with nature and the avian species left an indelible mark that has stayed with me till today. 
Three years ago, I decided to create a range of products with “Birds” as a theme, this was also because of the urban landscape that I lived-in had no space for them. My team researched birds, their habitats, common name, scientific name, field characters, distribution, habits, food, nesting and calling signs. We commissioned an artist to create a limited edition of water colour paintings on birds, these were mounted on framable handmade cards. We then expanded our range with handmade journals, each with textile spines and printed covers. We then went on to create metal bookmarks in the shape of a few birds. Each product comes with a booklet explaining the detailed habitat and characteristics of each bird featured in the range.

Being self taught and having started as a designer with an untrained mind, I always chose subjects and ideas that were close to my heart. I was never one of those that followed trends and forecasts. The road that I chose was less travelled and thats made all the difference.

This range took three years to complete because I couldn’t devote enough time in designing the packaging and information that would go along with it. All said and done, it has now been released and is a must for stationery collectors and bird aficionados.

Vintage newspaper

New soft-bound journals complement our existing range of vintage newspaper stationery. Newspapers have always been an inspiration for us. We will keep looking for innovative ways to use them in our pieces of art. 
This particular lot of newspapers date back to the 1970’s, it was picked-up at an auction by an old library that maintained volumes of newspapers bound together in their entirety. Our craftsmen strategically cut and tear relevant pieces of the newspaper so that the stationery looks aesthetically beautiful. If you look carefully, you can see that all our pencils have text flowing in one direction. Our notecards have torn edges with bamboo woven across the newsprint. Come visit us at Kala Ghoda and take home a story.

Batik paper

From a decade ago. Batik on banana fibre paper. Vintage #AnandPrakash. The last remaining sheet from a batch of 100. The swirls were made with hot wax and then the paper immersed in dye, wax was removed through hot press leaving behind a sheet full of character and colour.

Match box labels from collectors

Vintage Indian matchbox labels sourced from collectors, now encased for posterity in our serving trays, coasters, trinket boxes and wall frames. Limited collectors edition of 25 exclusive pieces.