Homegrown brands for summer

four homegrown brands and their handcrafted products

When was the last time you redid your home? Some minor changes as you stay indoors to escape the heat can mean more comfort. We list down brands that can inspire you to elevate your spaces, taking them from drab to fab.

Founded by Anish Williams, Mini Menon, and Priya Jayaraman, Peepul Tree sets itself apart as a storytelling-powered live commerce platform.

Apart from home decor and paintings, Peepul Tree, which works with over 5,000 artisans from across India, offers a range of accessories, silver jewellery, apparel, and historical artefacts. Menon says the brand aims to take fine Indian handmade products to the world. “Our products are sustainable, unique and handcrafted. We have some of the finest artisans, who tell their stories and showcase their work to the world,” she says.

Peepul Tree’s designers work in tandem with artisans to help them access global markets. Like its namesake, the Peepul Tree, which has wide arms, rich foliage, and heart-shaped leaves, the brand symbolises India’s diversity and cultural richness. Menon says Peepul Tree wants to get ‘Handcrafted in India’ back to the centre stage. “For over 2,000 years, India was at the heart of the world luxury market. That is the reason most traders and armies came to India. We believe that we still have the most amazing crafts and weaves, and the stories and products of our artisans need to be showcased to the world,” she says, adding that this is especially relevant today when global shoppers are moving away from cheap factory-made products to sustainable hand-crafted products.

The brand’s top sellers include a range of cushion covers made by women weavers in a village in Nagaland, and a range of table runners and cushion covers made by nomadic tribes settled in a village in Karnataka. “In both cases, the traditional art form has been reimagined and customised to modern tastes,” Menon says.

Looking for furniture and home décor accessories that stand out. Try Opaque Studio’s range that is handcrafted and made using sustainable, natural and renewable materials by artisans from across the country.

Kritika Gattani, co-founder, says the brand translates creative thoughts and concepts into works of art using eco-friendly and organic materials. “Opaque is a lot more than a mere design studio. We believe in bringing nature to home in astounding designs, transforming everyday utility into a sustainable work of art,” she says.