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around town
Nattily Morphed
Utility Items
It’s not very difficult to deduce that this can only be the
mind’s eye of an engineer. Kept at the Drawing Room, Artfeat
Designs by Kavan Bakshi is all about metamorphosis of ev-
eryday items into something unique. One look at the kettles
transformed into lamps (Rs. 2,500-3,000), sewing machine
into a fancy study table (Rs. 10,000-12,000) and door latches
into paper weights (Rs. 900) and you would know what we
mean. We particularly liked the John Lennon clock made out
of a gramophone record worth Rs. 1,000. A perfect blend of
creativity and engineering!
Drawing Room, 36, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi/9910330377
Fun Designer Animal Figures
Walking a little further, we found a loaded but tasteful home
décor store, named after the Enid Blyton’s fictional flying chair
– The Wishing Chair. This haven of sorts had things neither too
kitschy, nor too ethnic. Proprietors Vivita Relan and Avneet Mann
bring in these beautiful possessions from artists across India, save for
the flowers and crockery, which is sourced from China.
While poodle, mag pig and woven crocodiles (rang-
ing between Rs. 1650 to 1950) caught our fancy, we
loved the modish wine tubes priced at Rs. 550 each.
Second floor Studio, 86 – A, Shahpur Jat,
New Delhi/ 9810154949
Faceless painting and
Home Curio
Currently the prettiest home designer store in
Shahpur Jat, the Second Floor Studio made
its way in the market very recently. Loaded with
bric-a-bracs - room sets, cutlery, wall installations,
vases, candle stands, cushions and endless more, you
might just need help with the amount of options
you find here for your home. Attractions include
painted transparent blue medicine bottles, minia-
ture inspired faceless paintings worth Rs. 20,000,
brass and nickel candle stands worth Rs. 800-Rs.
1,500, and marble tea light holders at a maximum Rs.
2,500. The bracelets with skull shape embellishments
(made by Olivia Dar at Rs. 2000) looked unique; while
the hand painted cushions on silk (ranging between
Rs. 4,900-8,900) can change the look of any space.
Second Floor Studio, 417, Shahpur Jat, Near Jungi
House/ 011 41420324
Exploration of Sorts at
Shahpur Jat
anand
Prakash 2
second floor
studio 3
wishing chair
4
olivia dar
5
al artz
6
AugustKrantiMarg
Sarvadaya
Govt.
School
6
3
2
4
1
5
DDA
Office
UCO
BANK SBI
drawing room
1
There are villages and urban villages, and then there is Shahpur Jat. Before a visit to this market of
markets, we were guessing it to be a replica of Hauz Khas Village, with identical designer stores,
plenty of places of eat and a funky crowd around. In many ways, they proved siblings and in more
ways than one, they didn’t! Little did we know that amongst the kucha-pukka confusing lanes and
a hundred designer stores, one can actually hit upon a jackpot of creative innovations!
So as we marched on the quivering pathways with a colourful Shahpur Jat map in our hands (kept
at all the modern designer stores), we discovered many creations - some inventive and appealing
and others just plain eccentric. Follow us through the huddled alleys of unpainted brick buildings,
lined with tailoring sweatshops and hole-in-the-wall vendors; who sit comfortably next to the
contemporary shops we got interested in.
illustration:AnirbanBora

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Metal bookmarks
and hand-stitched
Journals
This one wasn’t very easy to find.
Clutched inside one corner in a modest
store, the creations by Anand Prakash are
worth a mention. The designers’ signature
store at Shahpur Jat has an
amazing collection of station-
ary including pencil holders
(from Rs. 2,490-Rs. 3,490),
fantastic metal bookmarks
(from Rs. 250-Rs. 800) and
hand-stitched journals (Rs.
690 to 1,490). The metal
inspired jewellery (Rs. 4,490
approximately) is experi-
mental and brave and the
steel coasters (Rs. 350 each)
are just another interesting
addition. We heard he also does custom-made stationary too!
32, First Floor, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi/ 011-26492678 u
by varalika vij
Handmade Home Décor and
Kitsch Sentimental Objects
These happy and refreshing products come under the label ‘Elan’ and
can be bought at Alecca Carrano’s concept store – Drawing Room. The
storehouse of designs includes buckets, boxes, gardening tools, lanterns,
stools, napkin rings and much more; hand made with galvanized sheet
metal by designer Vidushi Gupta. The basic geometrical designs and flam-
boyant colour patterns attract one’s attention and the cost varies between
Rs. 200 to Rs. 3,200. The kitsch sentimental objects kept under the brand
name ‘Lunazef’ were very unique and transported us straight to the 80’s.
Drawing Room, 36, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi/ 9810962611
Hand Painted Bags
and Ballerinas
Having entered the Dada Jungi House pathway, we
got bent on entering this unambiguous pink shop
named ‘al artz’. The meek attendants told me about pro-
prietor and artist Alisha Bhasin, who can make your
Embroidered
Collars and
Wrap-around
Bracelets
It’s not really easy to find such fashion-art
elsewhere. Many of us should know that
those stocky and heavy necklace pieces can
be swapped with these elegant collars (made
with beads and sequins, sewn into satin). Not
only do they look different and chic, but also
feel so silky on your delicate neckline. The French
designer Olivia Dar, a gracious and modest French
lady, can make customised collars matching with your
garments and is said to deliver them within a week’s
time. The collars cost Rs. 4,500 and if personalised,
would be charged at 20% more. She has many fans
for her thin wrap-around bracelets too.
Olivia Dar, H 5, 1st Floor, Jungi House, Shahpur Jat,
New Delhi/ 9999386020
imaginary designs come to life on balleri-
nas, sling bags and even ipad covers. The
retro cushions, movie trays and coasters
are for those who can experiment with the
home themes. While the personalised bal-
lerinas cost Rs. 1,599, ipad covers and sling
bags Rs. 1,499, your jazzy cushion covers
and wine trays come for Rs. 699 and Rs.
1,299 respectively.
al artz, 5 C, Jungi House, Shahpur Jat, New
Delhi/ 9811970891
around town