We can’t quite say kitsch has had its day, but of late designers are going a different, and very welcome, direction when it comes to prints for home decor. Gone are the Mughal motifs and the umpteenth interpretation of the lotus blossom, as patterns take inspiration from everyday life, travel and memories. “I think those typical motifs have been done for so many years, and interpreted in so many different ways, that they have become a little tired,” says Sarah Fotheringham, co-founder of Delhi-based designer home brand Safomasi. “It’s led people to seek fresh designs that are unique, with inspirations originating from a more personal angle.” We look at four brands, who are telling this story.
Safomasi
Each year, Fotheringham and her partner Maninder Singh explore a different part of the world and create illustrated prints for their five-year-old brand, Safomasi. Like Alleppey, one of their latest collections, that is a vivid catalogue from their travels on the Kerala backwaters, with illustrated men picking coconuts, woven palm leaves, fishermen, and aerial views. “We design prints in pairs, so each has an aerial view, imagined from the perspective of the coastal birds found in the region,” says Fotheringham, adding that a lot of greens and blues were used to create a coastal feel. Another collection is Kapadokya, drawing from their travels in Cappadocia, Turkey - featuring hot air balloons, the region’s famous fairy chimneys (cone-shaped rock formations), and cave houses. “They (the slice-of-life prints) are playful, happy and have a story behind them. These images remind people of their own experiences,” she says, adding their next line would mostly be inspired by the Himalayas.
NEST
Arpit Agarwal, who hails from Dibrugarh in Assam, always found a lack of representation when it came to products promoting the North East. So the NID alumnus launched NEST, a range of products inspired by the visual imagery of the region’s cultural symbols and lifestyles, in 2012. His ‘View from the Top’ collection of notebooks features everyday images of Mizoram’s bamboo dancers, weavers, Assam’s fishing women and more. “While these sights may look mundane, they’re breathtaking when seen from a bird’s eye,” says Agarwal, adding, “The idea is to give the user a new perspective.” He uses simple lines and bright colours to create detailed illustrations, which are then converted into digital art and transferred on to hardbound books. Agarwal - who is working on a line of jewellery inspired by the northeast - also gives detailed descriptions on the back covers, which he hopes will further spur interest in the region.
Safomasi
Each year, Fotheringham and her partner Maninder Singh explore a different part of the world and create illustrated prints for their five-year-old brand, Safomasi. Like Alleppey, one of their latest collections, that is a vivid catalogue from their travels on the Kerala backwaters, with illustrated men picking coconuts, woven palm leaves, fishermen, and aerial views. “We design prints in pairs, so each has an aerial view, imagined from the perspective of the coastal birds found in the region,” says Fotheringham, adding that a lot of greens and blues were used to create a coastal feel. Another collection is Kapadokya, drawing from their travels in Cappadocia, Turkey - featuring hot air balloons, the region’s famous fairy chimneys (cone-shaped rock formations), and cave houses. “They (the slice-of-life prints) are playful, happy and have a story behind them. These images remind people of their own experiences,” she says, adding their next line would mostly be inspired by the Himalayas.
NEST
Arpit Agarwal, who hails from Dibrugarh in Assam, always found a lack of representation when it came to products promoting the North East. So the NID alumnus launched NEST, a range of products inspired by the visual imagery of the region’s cultural symbols and lifestyles, in 2012. His ‘View from the Top’ collection of notebooks features everyday images of Mizoram’s bamboo dancers, weavers, Assam’s fishing women and more. “While these sights may look mundane, they’re breathtaking when seen from a bird’s eye,” says Agarwal, adding, “The idea is to give the user a new perspective.” He uses simple lines and bright colours to create detailed illustrations, which are then converted into digital art and transferred on to hardbound books. Agarwal - who is working on a line of jewellery inspired by the northeast - also gives detailed descriptions on the back covers, which he hopes will further spur interest in the region.