ALL MY INDIAN LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS ARE SUPPLIED TO ME EXCLUSIVELY BY ONE OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS AMY WHO MOVED TO START A NEW LIFE IN NORTHERN INDIA AT THE END OF 2005. SHE HAS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOURCING THESE BEAUTIFUL ITEMS AND KNOWS MANY OF THE MANUFACTURERS PERSONALLY.
IN FACT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY CAMEL LEATHER AND SARI BOUND BOOKS ARE HANDMADE BY 3 BROTHERS - RAVI, CHANDRA AND SURIYA. AND THE REASON THAT I DON'T HAVE 'HUNDREDS' OF 'CHEAP' JOURNALS ON E-BAY IS THAT IT TAKES THESE 3 YOUNG MEN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THESE LOVELY ITEMS.
THE STONES FROM THE GEMSTONE BOOKS ARE SUPPLIED TO THE BROTHERS BY ROBIN, A SILVERSMITH AND JEWELLER IN THE SAME VILLAGE, AGAIN AMY HAS KNOWN HIM AS A FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS.
IN FACT I WAS LUCK ENOUGH TO MEET WITH ALL MY SUPPLIERS WHEN I WAS IN INDIA LAST YEAR. EVERYWHERE WE WENT WE WERE PLIED WITH CHAI AND FOOD AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL MY 'BOYS' AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS HOSPITALITY - I KNOW THEY 'DIP' INTO THE SHOP SO THEY WILL READ THIS!
MY VINTAGE SARIS COME FROM ASHOK (MY FAVOURITE TAILOR!)
MY INDIAN LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS CURRENTLY INCLUDE CAMEL LEATHER AND SARI BOUND BLANK JOURNALS, WOODEN PRINT BLOCKS, TRADITIONAL RAJPUT SILVER JEWELLERY, CUSHION COVERS, SOLID PERFUMES, DOUBLE SIZED AND SINGLE SIZED THROWS/BEDSPREADS AND SILK SCARVES.
COMING SOON, MORE RAG RUGS, NEW WALL HANGINGS AND NEW DESIGN THROWS.
BELOW ARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF ROBIN AND SONU MY SILVERSMITHS, SURIYA MY BOOK GUY WITH ME IN THEIR SHOP, NORAT MY RAG RUG MAN, TARUN MY BANGLE MAN AND MR. OM MY LOVELY 'PERFUME' MAN AND ASHOK MY SUPPLIER OF SARIS.
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