The Rajboori Story - Eco-Silk Home Textile Collection

Blocked by Block Prints!

2012-01-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of each year when I sit down to design the new collection for the upcoming year, I try to explore new horizons in techniques, skills, artistry, and colors while maintaining the favorites of the current year. This time, my sense and sensibility was filled with inspiration from not only the colors and artistry of India, but from another continent far, far away - South America!

The sights, colors, and essence of this beautiful continent needed to be incorporated in our collection for 2012. As will soon be revealed in the upcoming weeks, you will find the cool yet sensual icy blues of the Patagonian glaciers, the grays of the rocky and surreal mountains, and the spicy and rich fuchsias and Tangerines of the flora, resplendent in our collection. Married with the essence of South America, you'll find the geometric shapes of old Indian architecture and techniques used from ancient times.

During my recent trip to India, I had the immense pleasure of experiencing how block printing is done. This ancient tradition needed its boundaries pushed a little so we threw some very modern patterns and motifs for the skilled artisans to explore. After some trial and error, they came out beautifully! Never did I know that how much bad weather can affect block printing! Waiting for days or hours for the sun to come up or for the steaming of fabrics to be completed (4hrs!) so that we could see how they turned out, took a lot of patience and persistence.

The colors used for block print need great amount of sunlight and dry weather for the true vibrancy to blossom. Once steamed in this huge steamers, they are washed and dried for the final effect and then finished appropriately as per the textile used. This time we've experimented with some beautiful handwoven linen fabric and I hope you will like them too.

block printed fabrics being rolled up to be put into the steamer

Stay tuned for the reveal of the Rajboori 2012 collection in a couple of weeks!

Happy New Year from Rajboori

2012-01-09T01:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year! It has been a while since I had a chance to write on our Blog and the reason is I have been super busy traveling in Europe and India.

Last November, I was in Milan and Barcelona for a few days. While in Milan, I got to spend some time at 10 Corso Como and really enjoyed the process of exploration to discover little treasures. What a gorgeous setup! While browsing, the wonderful staff treated me and the rest of the customers to some champagne and hors d'oeuvres that were absolutely delectable!

10 Corso Como

In Barcelona, I stopped by Nanimarquina's beautiful and vibrant new store and had a chance to admire their collection. I especially enjoyed the Kala rugs that are handwoven in India. I also had a chance to see Vincon which is fantastic store to discover some unique and interesting items for your home.

Kala Rug

Once in India, we went to the dynamic and bustling city of Mumbai. Some new discoveries included Le Mill, Anemos, and a revisit to Goodearth.

Le Mill's neutral look and modern sensibilities in their assortment had a very European flair and it was interesting to see that their sheet sets were in solid colors. It may sound surprising to most Westerners, but in India, the general preference for sheet sets is in print! The earth tones were a refreshing sight after seeing a myriad of color everywhere we went!

The reproductions of antique pieces or the re-purposed antique furniture were a delight to explore at Anemos. One of the founders was glad to show us around and we admired their beautiful creations.

Goodearth was fun to explore, especially, the textiles, china, and other accessories. And, I do love their candles! It was nice to see a lot of refinement in the collection and attention to finer detail which we hadn't seen the last time we were there.

Armchair - Goodearth

As part of my own work for Rajboori, we have some major plans for 2012 which will be disclosed in time. However, that is keeping us very, very busy these days, while we're working on finishing the 2012 collection in which we will introduce some new techniques and fabrics besides Peace Silk, top-stitching and patchwork.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from Rajboori for 2012!

Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver

2011-10-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

It's Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver and given my interest in all things "Eco", I wanted to stop by and explore what fashion trends were coming for 2012FW. The show includes presentations from Nicole Bridger, Jeff Garner (Prophetik), Melissa Ferreira, who are pioneers in Eco Fashion, and fashion favorites such as, Jason Matlo. Since wearable fashion trends transcend into home fashion, it's important to see what's cooking in their world.

Melissa Ferreira, Jason Matlo, Nicole Bridger, Misty Greer

I had the opportunity to attend the press conference and panel discussion held at the opening of Eco Fashion Week. There were many interesting questions posed to the panel and here are some key takeaways that can be applied to the home textiles industry and to some extent, our personal lives:

All the designers on the panel mentioned how they try to minimize waste involved in producing their collections.
Designers try to re-purpose the waste or donate to someone who can give it new life by creating other products, such a as accessories.
They all produce their collection locally, reducing carbon footprint
It's more expensive to produce eco fashion but once a consumer makes the commitment to purchase a Designer label that is Eco and sustainable, that consumer knows that the piece will last a lifetime. The longevity of natural fibers, such as, silk, linen, tencel, and spandex added to such fibers is much higher and in the end, we end up wearing the favorite Eco dress for many seasons, thus maximizing the return on the initial investment and causing less waste.

Nicole Bridger

All of the above points resonated with what we try to implement in the production of our Rajboori collection. We produce only enough to reduce waste and our designs use colors that are used all through a collection, making the collection easy to mix and match and coordinate harmoniously. The dyes we use are azo-free or vegetable, hence reducing use of chemicals in the process.

Silk, especially, Peace Silk, is more expensive to produce but at a consumer level it is an investment worth making as our quilts, coverlets, or pillows will last a lifetime, offering better return on investment to the consumer.

I hope more people come to the show and educate themselves on how to make more eco-friendly choices when it comes to fashion.

Mystical Machu Picchu and Colors of the Andes - Salkantay trail

2011-09-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

The morning we began our 3 day trek on the Salkantay trail to finally arrive at Machu Picchu, started before dawn. Our guide, Celso, came to pick us up. We started off with a 2hr drive to Mollepata, the starting point for the trail. Given we had only 3 days to complete the trek, a 5 day trip was scaled down to (quite ambitiously I must add) a 3 day trek!

Once we bid farewell to our driver, Cocoliso, and met our horseman, Jose, who had already loaded up the three horses with the luggage, we started the trek. The scenery was breathtaking, with soaring peaks of Salkantay and Umantay reaching for the cloudless, blue sky and the meandering streams flowing through the valley we walked through. On Day 1 we had to climb up to 4600m to the summit of Salkantay pass, which was about 4km, and then trek down another 7km to reach our campground for the night.

Both of us are pretty active people and Subrata even runs marathons, so we didn't think it would be that big of a deal to accomplish this task. Well, altitude is an element we didn't take too much into account when we set out. Given, we didn't have much time to acclimatize before the trek, it hit us and more so, me, like a ton of bricks! Not so steep elevations started proving to be a mammoth endeavor! Our guide, Celso, who turned out to be quite the entertainer, started cheering up the breathless Senorita with little stories and funny antics!

Anyway, after an arduous task, we reached the summit, not without stopping in between for a fabulous lunch prepared by Jose and Marcelino, who had trekked up faster than us and prepared a delicious, hot meal! The mountain dwellers breathe effortlessly at such high altitudes and apparently have trouble when they get down to sea level!

The views we saw during the climb up, the solitude of the mountains, the crispness in the air, and the feeling of elation after accomplishing what we had set out to, was unparalleled. The trek ended on Day 1 at a makeshift campground which was very "natural" in all sense of the word. Yes, no bathrooms, only amazingly beautiful natural settings! Our tents were set up behind a shed owned by a local farmer and a warm dinner was awaiting us. A sudden deluge greeted us that night and we feared the trail would be absolutely muddy, slippery and wet the next day, where we had to trek about 17km to La Plata campsite! Needless to say, neither of us went to sleep in peace that night!

The rain had stopped at some point that night and we woke up to a morning that was nothing but magical! Nestled between mountains and Peruvian rainforests, this little makeshift campsite seemed like a little gem. The moon was glistening on the Western sky and the crimson in the Eastern sky announced the rising sun. With a cheerful heart and very reliable hiking boots on our feet, Celso led us on the trek for Day 2, shouting "Vamos chicos, vamos la Plata!"

We hiked down rocky terrain, over streams, through lush rainforests, indigenous communities and gorgeous views of the mountains. It was great to get a local flavor of how the people lived in those remote areas. The horsemen were so fast on their feet, negotiating the rugged terrain and reaching their destinations on time even though they were miles away!

Day 2 ended after a hard 17km trek, at La Plata campsite, which had proper facilities! Our tent had already been set up and rest was all we could think of, not before a quick drive to Santa Teresa's hot springs to soothe our tortured muscles!

Day 3 started early but not like the ones before as only Subrata and Celso would go for a half day trek to meet Marcelino and me at Hydroelectric station, from where we would catch the train for Aguas Calientes. The plan was to take the 30min bus ride to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes very early on Day 4. Since we didn't have much time on our hands, we decided we didn't need to actually hike up to see Machu Picchu, especially, after what we endured on the Salkantay trail!

After being treated to a surprise birthday cake at 6:30 a.m., prepared for the Senorita by our amazing chef, Marcelino, I decided this was going to be a fun birthday after all! Subrata and Celso headed out and after a while Marcelino and I packed up and boarded a van with about 15 other tourists, guides, locals and even one braveheart on the roof! This precariously loaded ensemble of people and luggage started making its way up and down the mountainous roads of Peru. At one point, when giving way to an oncoming truck, our driver, who looked like he could be 16 years old, backed up so fast, that we almost went off the cliff! My heart pounding hard and hoping not to die on my birthday, I prayed that we all reached our destination safely. The roads of Peruvian mountains need much work and some recent flooding of the Urubamba river had caused much destruction, which is still being reconstructed.

We reached Aguas Calientes after a wonderful train journey through rainforests, mountains, and the Urubamba riverside. A more tourist-centered town probably could not be found! We rested to wake up at 4:30a.m. to stand in line to be the first ones to catch the bus to see Machu Picchu when the first rays of the sun would sweep through these remote and mystical ruins.

Mystical Machu Picchu and colors of the Andes - Cusco

2011-09-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

This past August, my husband, Subrata and I decided to go on an adventure in South America and it would also be a sourcing trip for Rajboori as I am increasingly seeking out global inspirations and sources to enrich our offerings. Our key destinations were Machu Picchu, Patagonia and Atacama desert, with cities like Valpariaso, Cusco and Buenos Aires thrown into the mix to offer some cosmopolitan, historical and cultural flavor and reprise from wilderness living.

After a day's journey from Vancouver, we reached Lima in the late evening. The airport was our "hotel" that night as we had a flight to the high altitude historical city of Cusco in the early hours of the morning. A few espresso shots at the Starbucks in Lima airport kept us awake that night.We reached Cusco in the early hours of the morning as the city was just waking up. The cool, crisp mountain air greeted us. Upon our arrival at the hotel, we were offered coca leaves, either to be chewed like the locals did or consumed as tea. I opted for coca-tea and Subrata went straight for the chewing option, hoping to drive off any remote chances of getting altitude sickness. Our 4 day trek to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trail would begin from the next day.

Plaza in Cusco city center

Cusco is a beautiful city nestled in the Andean mountains, built primarily in Spanish architecture as most of the original Inca architecture had been destroyed during the Spanish invasion and occupation. The alleys of Cusco were filled with sometimes enticing and sometimes strong smells of various indigenous food being cooked, out of which fried pork seemed to be prevalent and a favorite among most locals and some tourists. Cuy or guinea pig was a delicacy offered in most restaurants.


Royal Alpaca shawls

Now, I had to check out the amazing textile products I had been noticing since we had landed. The alpaca looked exquisite and a few upscale boutiques had the most beautiful and luxurious collection of shawls, scarves, and sweaters made from royal alpaca and vicuna wool. But I wanted to find something that was more Peruvian or Andean inspired and certainly more artisanal. So, off we went to visit the textile center in Cusco. This center is run by Nilda, who does inspirational work with the local artisans and they offer home textiles and some apparel in the center for purchase. There's also a very informative museum that illustrates how the art of weaving Andean textiles takes place and what ingredients/techniques are used to make these colorful items.

I was amazed to see the similarity of design patterns, style of weaving and the type of looms used by these artisan women and the ones that I have seen in North Eastern India! Did exchange of ideas and skills take place between the tribal artisan women of Peru and NE India at some point in history? If so, wouldn't it be great if we could revive that cultural exchange through design? With these thoughts churning in my mind, I went to bed, only to get up at an ungodly hour to leave for the Salkantay trek to ultimately reach our destination, the mystical Machu Picchu.

Salkantay peak - playing hide and seek

Heading out for points South, meaning the Southern Hemisphere!

2011-08-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

It appears that working on design concepts, interacting with our amazing buyers, and fulfilling orders has kept me so busy that the only time I'm writing this blog is when I'm getting ready to go on a trip! So, should I turn this into a travel blog with design inspiration infused with it?? Travel is one of our passions, so my work ultimately reflects inspiration from our travels and I want our designs to be more and more global as I unite different worlds through my designs!

So, this time we depart for South America! Business or pleasure you ask? When has the life of an entrepreneur ever been about pleasure? If I'm going to places like Peru, Chile and Argentina, shouldn't I be looking at the textiles of those regions and the cultural influences from centuries past? Of course! I'm really looking forward to meeting new artisans and learning about their work, choice of textiles, and what inspires them. In between, we'll fit in some treks to the mysterious Machu Picchu and Patagonia while we take in the culture and beauty of Valparaiso, Lima and Buenos Aires.

Stay tuned for more updates on our Facebook/Twitter/Blog in the upcoming weeks on how our South American adventure turns out!

Adios Por Ahora!

Naturally Good and Mad Hatter Party!

2011-05-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy few weeks, working on some new concepts and some amazingly talented Fashion Designers who are trying to create new trends, looks, and styles, all in the realms of eco-friendly and sustainable textiles.

On another note, our Holi quilt/throw made a special appearance in a Mad Hatter party in a beautiful garden, courtesy of Standard Magazine (www.standardmag.com )!
Photo Album of Standard Magazine photoshoot

Mitun was recently interviewed by AATCC Review, a prestigious non-profit technical association that provides a lot of well researched information regarding the textile industry (www.aatcc.org). Their current issue features Rajboori in an article called Naturally Good by Maria Thiry, which is a great compilation of information from various industry experts on natural and synthetic fibers. Mitun shared her knowledge of silk, especially, Peace Silk, and other natural fibers in this article.

Escape with our Escape coverlets

2011-04-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Infuse your homes with a splash of juicy and tantalizing Spring colors - Aqua, China Orange or Fuchsia! Hand-embroidered, geometric shapes, top-stitching - all available in our modern and luxurious throws/coverlets that can be used year round. With a Peace Silk top that feels more like cotton mixed with wool to the touch and a soft and sensual charmeuse back, these throws/coverlets are sure to add comfort, design and vibrancy to your home.

Storming Rajasthan IV - Camel Safari and Golden Fort

2011-03-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

I woke up filled with excitement as I was going to ride a camel for the first time today and also explore the Golden Fort of Jaisalmer! The owners of our boutique hotel, Pol Haveli, are two brothers, Anna and Manu. They were more than happy to arrange for a customized camel safari for us since we were pressed for time and couldn’t avail of the usual sunrise or sunset safaris. People can also spend the night on the dunes in very comfortable tents while enjoying local music and dance and a sumptuous Rajasthani meal. We decided to leave that for a future trip.

After a fantastic breakfast of masala omelets, cheese toasts with flavourful tea and a fabulous view of the fort from the rooftop restaurant, we left for the dunes of the Thar desert in a covered jeep. The road took us through dusty and desolate desert landscape, where we spotted an occasional camel loitering or feeding from the local vegetation. After about a half hour drive, we reached a small Rajput village of only a few 100 inhabitants. The houses were small and humble, built from the yellow sandstone available locally.

Our camels were ready for us and the guide instructed us to follow the method of “boarding” a camel. I climbed up onto the back of the animal and settled in before the camel was instructed to get up. This was a weird feeling as I had to lean back when the camel was getting up and lean forward subsequently to keep my balance. We started our trip down the sandy path that led us to the dunes of the desert.

I have had the pleasure of riding on an elephant many times in the wildlife sanctuaries of India but this was a unique experience in itself! At times, I had to shift my weight to make sure I was balanced properly for fear of falling off the animal’s back. Once on the dunes, we got off to walk through the sand a little bit and it was a great feeling! The sand was soft under my feet and so smooth. I felt that a little sand-slide was required to pay tribute to this beautiful element of nature and threw myself down one of the sand slopes! Yes, it was fantastic and I highly recommend this to all! I could only imagine how gorgeous it would be to see the dunes during sunset.

After some more camel riding and camel racing, we decide we needed to return to Jaisalmer as the Golden Fort was still to be explored. Once at the fort, we were approached by a very endearing and persuasive guide called Hasmukh, who wouldn’t take no for an answer and for a mere Rs. 70 ($1.55), I thought it would be worth our while to humour him. Hasmukh was quite fluent in conversational English as he dealt with foreign tourist all the time and told us that the fort was built 900 years ago and about 4000 people still resided within the boundaries of the fort.

The King’s palace was a gorgeous piece of architecture but smaller in size compared to other palaces in Rajasthan. The cobble stoned paths led us to a high point in the fort from where one could see the city around us that did look like a golden city made of the yellow sandstone.

I needed to pick up a few souvenirs made from the fabled yellow sandstone. Hasmukh took me to a store called Light of The East whose owner was originally from Calcutta! He had moved to Jaisalmer after watching the Ray movie, Shonar Kella and having fallen in love with this enchanting desert city! His store had a lovely collection of unique stones, gemstones, crystals, etc.

After I’d had enough of the charms of the Golden Fort and it’s architecture, we began our journey towards Jaipur where we would spend the night before heading for Delhi to catch my flight back to Vancouver.

Storming Rajasthan III - In the Golden Fort

2011-03-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

We left the Blue City of Jodhpur behind us and set off down the dusty desert roads for Jaisalmer, the city of the Golden Fort (Shonar Kella popularized by the movie with the same name made by Oscar winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray). It was a 330km journey and judging by our past driving experience, we didn't expect to get there until 9 or 10pm.

Before leaving Jodhpur, our wonderful chauffeur, Nitin, made sure that Canadian (crazy) Madam didn't miss the famous Mirchi Vara and kachoris of Jodhpur. These Mirchi Varas are delicious and not for the mild at heart! It's literally a hot pepper coated with a spicy potato and oinion mash with a breadcrumb exterior that is deep fried. It tastes divine! We grabbed a box of sweets for the long ride and were on our way.

In search of Mirchi Vara

Lunch wasn't a "fancy restaurant" experience but around 4:00pm we stopped at a roadside "dhaba" or Indian fast food shack. The charpoys (vinyl and aluminium multi-purpose sitting/sleeping furniture) were laid out and wooden blocks were placed strategically to form make-shift tables. We met an adorable little boy of maybe 9 or 10, whose name was Salim. He could recite the menu in one breath and if stopped in between, would resume from the start!

After asking him, I learnt of a very interesting arrangement in Salim's family, that came about based on economic needs and reality of their situation. Salim doesn't go to school but earns Rs. 2000 each month by working at the Dhaba. His older brother goes to school and comes home and teaches him what he has learned. This way, Salim supports the family and is somewhat being educated. What an interesting arrangement, I thought! So much reality for a 9 or 10 year old boy, who didn't stop smiling and serving the best rotis I've ever had!

The journey to Jaisalmer took us through more dry and open lands of Rajasthan. We saw a lot of windmills that had been installed all over the desert areas. At about 9:30p.m. we finally reached Jaisalmer. The hotel we stayed in had an amazing view of the Golden Fort from the rooftop restaurant. It looked dreamy and called out to me to come and explore it's narrow alleyways.

part of the King's palace - Jaisalmer Fort

Golden Fort of Jaisalmer

After a delicious dinner of kaju curry, gatta, and egg curry, sleep was next on the agenda before I embarked upon the next adventure, camel safari in the Thar Desert and exploration of the Golden Fort!

Storming Rajasthan II - In the Blue City, Jodhpur

2011-03-01T23:42:00.000-08:00

The morning came in our lovely Polo Heritage hotel (http://www.poloheritage.com/) with birds chirping in the lawn and soft sounds of the hotel getting ready for the day ahead. I didn't get a chance to explore the hotel and its grounds the night before so I took the opportunity to do so in the morning. Jodhpur is a city of art and culture as that was evident in the smallest details around me. The huge room with its 20ft ceilings and locally made colonial furniture and beautiful marble floors in the bathroom, all added to the charm of this beautifully appointed heritage hotel.

After a fantastic breakfast of upma and tea, we headed for Umaid Bhawan Palace, the home of the royal family of Jodhpur and a luxury hotel as well. The view from the top of the hill was breathtaking and as we walked up the path to the museum section of the palace, I admired the grounds and the amazing architecture of the palace. Inside, we saw some select objects that were collectibles of the royal family. To this day, even if monarchy doesn't truly exist in India, but the royal families in Rajasthan still hold the respect of the people.

Once we enjoyed the royal hospitality, we decided to head to another area of historic and architectural beauty, the Mehrangarh Fort, which rises majestically from the hills around Jodhpur and offers a fabulous view of the old city of blue around it. I loved these blue houses! The fort itself was a gorgeous piece of architecture with so many stories to tell.

After taking in the views we headed for the desert city of Jaisalmer and the Golden Fort (Shonar Kella). some 330kms away from Jodhpur.

RAJBOORI NEW COLLECTION - 2011

2011-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Our new collection is now available and we're very excited to offer our discerning clientele an assortment of vibrant colors that are sure to bring Spring and Summer to their homes.

To view the collection please click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=278870&id=90971311614&ref=mf

We designed the collection based on three concepts - Jewels, Inequality, and Escape. Three distinct yet synchronized concepts that are tied together by hues and craftsmanship details. Hope you find a place for Rajboori SS11 in your homes.

Storming Rajasthan I - In search of my Blue City

2011-02-27T22:46:00.000-08:00

Since I was a kid, I read stories about the brave Rajputs of Rajasthan, a Western state of India that now borders with Pakistan. The palaces, the architecture, the vibrant colors, and the arid desert landscape, all of these elements had turned Rajasthan into a land of intrigue for me. To top it off, when I watched the movie "Shonar Kella" (the Golden Fort) by renowned filmmaker, Satyajit Ray, I felt almost like the main protagonist, Mukul, who thought he lived in Jaisalmer in his past life! I knew at that moment that Rajasthan had a lot to offer me, when I chose to pay her a visit.

Before leaving India for Vancouver, I had the opportunity to attend the wedding between our own Rajboori team member, Deepa and Suveer. I enjoyed the amazing hospitality of her family and danced into the night with everyone. After the two-day festivities, we departed for my "dreamland" - Rajasthan!

Our adventure began with a 550km drive from Delhi to Jodhpur, the Blue City as I knew it. Now, in Western context of driving, this trip should not have taken more than 5-6hrs. In terms of driving in India, even if we factored in road conditions, new construction, breaks, etc. it still could be somewhere within 10 hrs. For us, it was a 17hr road trip! The brand new Tata Indica we had rented was driven by a very diligent man called Nitin, who paid close attention to every squeak and rumble that the car made. Apparently, our car wasn't running as smoothly as he would hope for so we spent about 2.5 hrs hunting for car repair shops and a good bit at a Tata dealership! At least, this provided me with a chance to see how a dealership handles it's clients in India.

After Nitin was somewhat satisfied and with a bill for Rs.2000, we resumed our journey. The Delhi-Jaipur NH8 highway is a pleasure to drive on and will be even more so once the now 6 lane highway is transformed into an 8 lane one. I had the pleasure of eating at the roadside "dhabas" which offered decent veg food without any fuss whatsoever. The only element that didn't suit me well was the amount of oil and spices used but that added all the flavor in the dishes!

A long and tiring journey ended at midnight in Jodhpur at the Polo Heritage hotel, which was delightful with it's huge rooms with 20ft ceilings, marble bathrooms and a beautiful lawn.

Got a good night's rest before our exploration of the Blue city began in the morning.

Happy New Year from India!

2011-01-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

After an adventurous trip from Vancouver to Beijing to Delhi and finally, Kolkata, I am now out of jet-lag and enjoying the beautiful cool and crisp winter of Kolkata. Due to a last minute travel plan, I was left with Air China as my choice of airline and I regret this decision wholeheartedly! Bad weather in Delhi caused Air China to cancel their flight from Beijing to Delhi after we had boarded the flight and had been sitting in it for 30 min!

All hell broke loose since then as poor communication skills or lack there of and even worse customer service on the part of Air China led us through a state of confused exhaustion for about 2 hours before we were delivered to our hotel 30 min outside of the airport. It was even worse to discover that we had to share rooms with complete strangers! My roomie turned out to be great though. Anyway, eventually made it to Delhi the next day and finally to Kolkata.

We've been working on the samples for Spring-Summer 2011 and I'm waiting for the new colors to be dyed and then we'll get the stitching process started. It's always exciting to see the concepts evolve from designs on a piece of paper or the computer into live products that we can touch and feel and enjoy in our homes.

Will write soon with more pics.

2010, Almost History!

2010-12-15T00:38:00.000-08:00

Where has this year gone? It was only January, when after an adventurous around the world (not intentional or part of our itinerary) trip back to Vancouver, I was getting ready to exhibit our 2010 collection at Maison & Objet! What a trip that was! My purse got stolen the very first day, leaving me penniless, identity-less, and spirit-less in one of the most romantic and amazing cities in the world, Paris! However, the show did go on and with much appreciation for the new collection, so thanks to all!

I am now getting ready to leave for India to get samples ready for Spring-Summer 2011 and start working on the Fall/Winter collection. New colors and old favorites will comprise the SS 11 collection in designs that I'm hoping will appeal to all as before. I am planning on traveling in India to look for inspiration for the Fall/Winter collection and hope to dazzle our patrons with something fantastic. Stay tuned for more updates as the days progress.

Before ending 2010, we happily added another name to our list of clientele and that's AnandaMaya Design of New Jersey, USA. AnandaMaya Design, home of modern/vintage interiors with influences from Indian/Asian and Latino culture, is where eco friendly, organic and sustainable meets beautiful & timeless style. The designers, craftsmen and artists have been hand selected because of their ability to capture beauty from around the world. AnandaMaya Design will feature: Exquisite linens, soft furnishings, Paper, Baby and Mami, Personal and Travel Accessories as well as some one of a kind pieces.

Ebelyss, a Latina woman born in the U.S., is CEO/Founder of AnandaMaya Design, LLC. Recently, she turned her focus from health care business development and management to becoming an entrepreneur. Her love for Interior Design and earth friendly, sustainable products began long before her educational years. From watching her grandmother create beautiful one of kind baby blankets, bed and table linens, to her aunt's amazing paper creations and her mother's clean style and business sense, Ebelyss developed an unsurpassed taste for beauty and innovation. She even thought "green" before it was popular.

Ebelyss married an Indian man and is the mother of Alisa Maya and Anand, her inspiration and motivation for all that she does. Anand and Alisa Maya are the children of parents from two cultures living in this one world. Seeing beauty through their eyes is a must. Ebelyss's appreciation for different cultures and awareness to create a design aesthetic that is not only visually beautiful but must be non fussy and non-toxic is exciting and fun. Choosing the designers from around the world takes time. I'm passionate about each and every one of them and together we can bring amazing selections of modern, unique and beautiful accessories for the home and for everyone.

Festivities of old with a modern twist - Design, Art, Creativity

2010-10-25T00:37:00.000-07:00

Each year, in the Fall, the city of Calcutta (Kolkata) dresses up with lights, decorations, and massive exhibits of innovative art and creativity. The occasion - Durga Puja. For those that are not familiar with this religious festival, it holds the same importance for Bengalis as Christmas does for Christians. However, the festive element reigns supreme in this case - food, color, lights, music, rythms of the drums (dhak) and the long lines of people waiting to see the explosion of artistic brilliance.

The city becomes host to not only its residents but millions of people who visit from neighboring cities, towns and villages! Durga Puja is called a religious festival but it's more a festival of art these days with a religious element added to it. In short, according to classical Hindu mythology, Durga, the goddess of power, was created by all the other Gods, to vanquish the demon, Mahishasura, who was wreaking havoc on the earth and the heavens. Aided by the 10 weapons provided to her by the Gods, she finally destroyed the demon.

Goddess Durga personifies Power and Motherhood. She is also a daughter, and when the autumn harvest is reaped, it is homecoming time for the daughter Durga with her four children. The vanquishing of evil and the return of a married daughter to her home were the two elements that were celebrated through Durga Puja. In the old days, once a woman got married, she was rarely allowed to visit her paternal home until this one time in the year.

I thought a little historical background would be helpful to set the context but what I wanted to write about is how over the last 15 years or so, this Puja (religious offering/ceremony) has evolved into a forum to showcase amazing works of art throughout the city of Calcutta, only to be dismantled at the end of the 5 day celebrations! The usually less flamboyant and subtle city becomes radiant and bold during these celebrations and shows off it's artistic heritage.

In various areas of the city, structures called "Pandals" are built to house the deities that are made in a specific area of the city, known as Kumortuli, where artisans have been making the idol statues for generations. The skills of these artisans are amazing! It takes months to create the idols.

The pandals are usually made from cloth, with a bamboo infrastructure, and illuminated heavily. What is amazing is how creative and innovative the designs have become over the years where building the pandals is concerned. A theme is chosen for each location and executed with perfection. Structures resembling renowned architectural wonders of the world, or important buildings are built with precision, only to be dismantled at the end of the festivities.

The current themes have also incorporated eco-friendly measures where reuse and recycle is the theme that pervades. Structures made from torn towels, works of art made from baskets and buckets, and many more can be seen. I've seen entire pandals made out of seashells and conch shells or cockleshells!


used baskets and buckets

made from torn towels

Now, why doesn't the government build a fabulous museum to house the best of these artistic endeavors after the celebrations each year?


concept: We play with puppets as children and then ourselves become puppets in the hands of life! (Made from clay pots)

Readers, if you're ever in India in the Fall and during the Durga Pujas, Calcutta is where you need to be! It'll be an experience of a lifetime.

Special thanks goes to my dear friends who live in Calcutta and have shared their experiences and festivities with me via these photographs.

Rajboori Now Available in Calgary!

2010-09-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

Andrew and Riva Mackie of Riva's The Eco Store in Calgary recently opened the doors to their new location in Calgary. Just before Labor Day we delivered the Rajboori collection to their store and they were received with much appreciation! Now the products are on display in their lovely store and the design savvy of Calgary can now find their favorite Rajboori piece for their homes.

Riva's The Eco Store - http://www.rivasecostore.com/m.php?p=home

Rajboori now available at Riva's - The Eco Store

2010-09-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Rajboori collection was delivered to Riva's - The Eco Store in Calgary, AB earlier this week and you can now stop by their lovely store to make your selection from our collection! You'll have a choice of pillows, coverlets/throws, and quilts for the upcoming Fall/Winter. Remember, silk is an all season fabric.

To rejuvenate my spirits and to say farewell to summer, we're heading out to Jasper-Banff-Yoho! I hope to return with more colors and shades imprinted in my memory for our future collections!

Dark Oyster Milon Coverlet with fuchsia Charmeuse pillows

Clouds quilt

Rajboori featured in Trend Bible, UK

2010-08-11T00:37:00.000-07:00

Trend Bible, a publication based in the UK (http://www.trendbible.co.uk/blog/) featured our collection in their Lifestyles for the Home, Autumn/Winter 2011/12! They spotted us at Maison & Objet in Jan, 2010, and decided to feature us as one of the trendsetters in design and colors for the future. Needless to say, we're thrilled!

Trend Bible is available globally: http://www.trendbible.co.uk/blog/?page_id=581

Special Note: Our Jolie pillow was featured as a "Key Item"!
Here are some images from the publication....

Moca and Jolie sold from Provide!

2010-07-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

The weekend is here and I'm off to Seattle for a day to meet an old and dear friend. This summer has been a summer of guests, meeting friends, and enjoying some great moments. Isn't that what life is all about?

Our Moca and Jolie pillows have found new homes after leaving their comfortable shelf at Provide. I'm starting to get my creative juices flowing so that I can start conceptualizing the new collection for 2011. This is the best part of my job!

www.providehome.com

Rajboori products in photo shoot in South Africa for Room39, London

2010-07-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

Our Rangoli Quilt and pillow and the Holi 12" pillow were part of a photo shoot done in South Africa recently by our client, Room39, London. The photo here is a part of that and I just love how "luxuriously lived-in" our collection looks in this setting!

Rajboori will soon be available at Room39 this Fall!

RAJBOORI Coming Soon to The Drawing Room...

2010-07-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

It gives me great pleasure to share that the RAJBOORI collection will soon be available at the wonderful Drawing Room in Cos Cob, CT, USA! In my last post I wrote about this beautiful store and cafe, with their fabulous collection and RAJBOORI pillows and throws will find a very suitable home there. Our products will be available in their store by end of Summer- early Fall.

www.thedrawingroom.cc

Spreading the Rajboori story...Eastward

2010-07-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

I had been planning a trip to New York and surrounding areas to meet with some buyers/owners of a few stores that were interested in the RAJBOORI collection. So, I took my samples and headed out Eastward to NY-CT towards the end of June.

It's always great to meet new people, learn about their entrepreneurial stories, and to see their unique styles be expressed through their collections in their stores. I loved the following stores and more so, the people behind them:

King's Road Home - British owned by Christian Carlsen and inspired by the trendy and fashionable King's Road in London, this large SOHO store has a great collection of one-of-a-kind furniture produced by artisans. It can be described as eco-chic as most pieces are made from salvaged wood. They also have a fantastic collection of Moroccan designed lamps that I loved! Soho, NY - www.kingsroadhome.com

Homeward Bound - New Milford itself is a cute little town where a bridge forms a street and is conveniently called Bridge Street! Homeward Bound, owned by dynamic duo Kathy Walsh and Trip Rothschild, has two locations, New Milford and West Hartford. A wonderfully eclectic store with furniture and decor pieces from local and global sources placed casually all throughout the two level store. We're looking forward to seeing Rajboori pillows as part of their assortment soon. New Milford, CT, www.homewardboundstyle.com

The Drawing Room - Is it a cafe, is it a home decor store? It's both! Located in Cos Cob, CT, the Drawing Room is such a lovely boutique store with a cafe where you can sit and enjoy a cup of tea with friends while nibbling on some delectable finger food. Once you step inside the store, you can see the amazing creative expression of husband-wife duo of Mike and Kenleigh Larock. Each piece is carefully selected by the owners and the vibrant mood in the collection really resonated with me. Needless to say, Rajboori will find a happy home here! Cos Cob, CT, www.thedrawingroom.cc

Monsoon skies and a cup of Coco.....

2010-05-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have some great art and design elements to write about but not until next time as other impending "business" tasks are filling up my plate. :-) On top of that, my husband and I have to now look for a specific soccer jersey representing Brazil! No, he's not Brazilian but it's a long story for maybe another time.

The recent predominantly Grey skies in Vancouver have probably put our Monsoon pillow in the limelight and what goes well with a day that's Grey? A hot cup of Cocoa, or relaxing against our Coco pillow. Our latest sales at Provide, Vancouver are Monsoon and Coco pillows.

Until next time......

Art Under the Sea?

2010-05-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for interesting and innovative elements of art and design and if it has anything to do with an eco-friendly or sustainable process, then woohoo! So, this article in a travel magazine caught my attention when I was in Mexico in April - Underwater sculptures in Mexico!

Naturally this piqued my curiosity to read more and I just loved the concept. Jason deCaires Taylor, Creator of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, has gained international recognition for his unique work. His sculptures highlight ecological processes whilst exploring the intricate relationships between modern art and the environment. By using sculptures to create artificial reefs, the artist’s interventions promote hope and recovery, and underline our need to understand and protect the natural world.

Taylor's vision and creation has already been installed in Grenada and the one in Mexico is in the works. In 2009 the first steps of a monumental underwater sculptural museum were formed in the waters surrounding Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc. The project will eventually consist of over 400 permanent life-size sculptures, becoming one of the largest and most ambitious underwater artificial attractions in the world.

The aim of such an underwater sculpture museum is to form a complex reef structure for marine life to colonise and inhabit. Each of the sculptures will be made from specialized materials used to promote coral life, with the total installation occupying an area of over 150sq metres and weighing over 120 tons.

You can read more about this amazing concept and artistic vision here: http://www.underwatersculpture.com/index.asp

To My Mother....

2010-05-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms out there, including my Supermom! When we were growing up in India, Mother's Day wasn't a "festival" that was celebrated there. For those of you familiar with India, the people need just one excuse to celebrate something and make it into a festival or something close to that. Such is the love for having fun! These days, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. have become so important that not celebrating them makes one very "uncool". :-)

Anyway, I never wished my Mom a Happy Mother's Day when I lived in India (it wasn't the "in-thing" then!) but now I do and each year, I do so with a growing appreciation of being rewarded with such an amazing woman as my Mother! Her support helped me to finally take the first steps towards planning a higher education in the US at that young age. She and my father inspired the appreciation for arts and culture that I grew up with. Her impeccable taste and love for the arts planted the seed for creative, entrepreneurial and artistic endeavors in me. Growing up around a beautiful, elegant, and creative woman like my Mom was truly instrumental in who I have evolved into in the past years. So, thanks and a Happy Mother's day to you, Ma!

I'd also like to thank the wonderful clients at Provide (Vancouver) who have taken a piece of RAJBOORI home with them in the past few months! I hope your homes are now further brightened with the color and soul of our products. The Milon pillows and the Reale pillow are one of my personal favorites.

The Mayan Effect

2010-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

The potential of a total burn-out, for both my husband, Subrata and I, caused us to plan an emergency "ONLY REST & RELAXATION" vacation. To obtain this much needed R&R, came the "stressful" process of actually finding that haven that would provide us with what we needed. Being avid travelers and our constant hunger for exploring the new, it always becomes a challenge to find the right place to visit, given that time is short and we aren't millionaires yet!

However, after much debate we settled on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Having been there once before, we knew that the R&R would be abundantly available and we could quench our thirst for exploration by going to Tulum (Mayan ruins) or Xel-Ha (natural aquarium). So, we made our reservations and off we went, our heart and souls ready to soak in the warm Caribbean sun and the cool breeze of the sea.

Now, the word "Maya" in Sanskrit means "illusion". Did we have any idea that the Mayan Riviera would truly prove to be an illusion/Maya for the much promised Sun and Fun at the beach? We stayed at the gorgeous El Dorado Maroma, whose beach is fabled to be Travel Channel's #1 beach. The location was perfect and after 1 full day of idyllic Caribbean effect, we forgot the world we left behind, almost.

After a perfect "Sky" massage in a hut above the waters of the Caribbean and being soothed by the cool breeze, it truly felt like we were getting started quite nicely on the whole R&R plan. However, the first sign of this "Maya" or illusion of sun and fun in the sun was right there on the beach after I came out of the hut! To my surprise, the beach was empty, the sky was pitch black, and there was, RAIN! I had been enjoying the massage so much that I didn't even notice the intensity of the breeze that had changed from a soft breeze to high wind!

And, so it went on, for 4 days. A freak storm in April with little breaks here and there where we all almost ran to the beach with our drinks and towels and useless sunscreens! And, promptly ran back to our rooms or the poolside restaurant when the rains started pouring again. So, to make the most of this situation, we drank a lot of mojitos, margarita tamarindos (margarita with tamarind - highly recommended), and a few tequila shots and caught up our paperback reading.

What this offered me was a unique opportunity to savor the true beauty that was laying all around me and capture those moments, colors, flavors and essences through my camera and my soul. The various shades of green, the ever-changing shades of turquoise-grey-blue of the Caribbean Sea, the rapid transition of the blue to dark grey of the clouds above us, all of this was food for the creative soul. To add to this, the colors and flavors of the cuisine of Mexico, be that on the streets of Playa del Carmen or in the fabulous restaurants of the resort.

Yes, we finally got our much needed R&R and loved watching the storm raging on the Caribbean although I can't say that the staff enjoyed cleaning up after it as much!

And, if you are looking for one of the best massages in the world but for $27 for 1 hr and if your adventurous spirit allows you to, then look no further than the booth on 5th Ave in Playa del Carmen! This is a top secret but the key is to be adventurous! :-)

Xel Ha

El Dorado Maroma

Tulum

Spring Is In The Air

2010-03-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air even though it has been raining too much like November in Vancouver. I love the greenery of the Grouse Mountain that I can see from my windows. The air is fresh, the flowers are in bloom, and new ideas are streaming through my brain.

What is it specifically about Spring that I love? I know that the reappearance of greenery and color in the dry and withered landscape is the big attraction, but for those of us living in evergreen Vancouver, what are we supposed to celebrate? I think, for me, it has to be the promise of new beginnings and that's what's on my mind these days.

I remember vividly, growing up in Calcutta, when global warming hadn't reared it's ugly head as much, and we could experience the joys of each season (now it's just summer and winter!), Spring came with the festival of Colors or Holi and the Gul Mohar tree bursting out in a glory of red and yellow outside of our window! The Flame of the Forest made the trees look like they were on fire with soft red petals of the flower in full bloom.

With Spring in the air and creativity reigning high on my mind, I think this is the perfect time to start walking a new path with new inspirations and a fresh outlook.

RAJBOORI available through Modern Karibou

2010-02-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to share that the Rajboori Collection is now available through Modern Karibou - http://www.modernkaribou.ca/m-68-rajboori.aspx!

Modern Karibou is a wonderful online store that offers great designer items for the home. It clearly states in their mission statement - Our mission is to be a dynamic online source of inspiration for lovers of modern design and interior décor in Canada.

Modern Karibou highlights the creations of established and emerging designers and artists from around the world and champions and celebrates home-grown, innovative talent. In addition to featuring a beautiful selection of unique modern furniture and accessories, we’ll help you identify great contemporary design ideas for your home and make them easily accessible.

Our Jan 2010 Peace Silk Collection

2010-02-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Rajboori is all about combining contemporary with traditional craftsmanship. New colors, new designs and new aesthetics..... it's all here. Throw pillows and oh so comfortable floor pillows (MALA)! Breezy and airy "CLOUDS" quilt and new colors of the coverlets.

Maison et Objet, Jan 2010 - the adventures of Rajboori

2010-01-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

So, we finally made it to our third trade show in 1 year, and that too, twice at Maison et Objet. For those of you not too familiar with the world of trade shows, it's an utterly expensive affair but it is something that cannot be avoided for people like us starting a business and looking for a broader audience.

My day 1 started quite well after I headed straight from the airport to Parc des Expositions where Maison et Objet is held. With my associate Guilherme helping me gather items for the booth decor and setup, it seemed like a walk in the park until I realized around 6pm when we were about to leave, that my purse was stolen!

I had everything in there - passport, credit cards, cash and more and it was stolen from our booth when one of us wasn't looking! The nerve! Well, the world came crashing and after some formulaic search conducted by Maison security I was told, if I'm lucky the purse (my favorite red one too) might turn up in a garbage bin but the cash will be gone. Very comforting news after an 11 hr journey with barely any sleep and more than than 9 hrs without a meal! Apparently, I'm not the first vicim of theft at Maison during setup days and even during the show. Exhibitors have complained about having their samples stolen from their booths!

I had to file a police report where the lackadaisical policeman kept lecturing me in French on how we shouldn't carry purses around or backpacks. Guilherme translated the lecture in a quite disappointing manner as he knew exactly what I felt at that moment. Nice way of hiding the lack of law enforcement in these aspects, I would surmise. Anyway, the next morning the lovely lady at the Canadian Embassy helped me with filing for a temporary travel document/passport so that I can go HOME next week!

Maison is going well. Repeat clients coming to see us again to see what new things we're offering, new contacts being established, people who had seen us last time coming back to see us again, and loads of new eco-friendly boutiques showing strong interest in Rajboori. All good. Looking forward to the next 3 days.

Here are some images for our booth and new offerings:

Mumbai Masala, Calcutta Sweetness

2010-01-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a very hectic and "around the world in 80 hrs" trip from India to Vancouver! It was frustrating yet interesting to note that a Norther European airport such as Frankfurt, was so ill equipped to handle 10 cm of snowfall. I'm sure Chicao, Winnepeg, etc. would have laughed at them!

We had to go from Calcutta-Frankfurt-Shanghai-Vancouver, with 7 hours of sack time, hours without food, countless hours in airport transfer desk lines, and no one to offer any comfort, especially to the poor passengers travelling with little children.

To go back to our eventful and very productive trip to India in the past 2 months, it was an amazing time we spent. In Calcutta I worked on some new designs for Rajboori that are further simplified and done in more neutral colors but not losing our signature "vibrant pop"! Waiting for the samples to come in this week for a very quick photo shoot and then I fly off to Maison et Objet next week to show off these new beauties. So excited! The streets and colors of Calcutta provided inspiration for this and the future collections.

A short trip to Mumbai was very informative and helpful to see how the market for home decor has evolved and refined in the past 10-15 years. High end furniture stores and eclectic home accessories stores are tucked away in areas like Mahalakshmi, Colaba, Juhu, and more. The ones we loved are: Goodearth, Hestia, Address Home, House of Raro, and Pallate.

A quick meeting with Elle Decor India's Art Director Mrudul Pathak Kundu was a great bonus! Thanks, Mrudul! Hope we can work together in the near future.

Tidbits from Calcutta

2009-11-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a week since I came to Calcutta (Kolkata). I can't believe how quickly time's passing and I still have so much to do. It is unseasonably warm for November but from what I hear about the current grey, rainy days is Vancouver, this is a welcome break.

This time I've noticed that the pollution level has decreased noticeably. With new and improved public transport in the city the people are enjoying a cleaner quality of air. However, it's a long ways to go but signs of improvement are always encouraging.

I've been looking all around for inspriration for the next collection. A small exhibition on tribal art and handmade jewelry, ethnic chic Indo-Western fashion, accessories was a good start. The level of detail in the craftsmanship and the simplicity of design in some products was refreshing to see. Didn't have my camera with me so can't share those lovely images trapped in my head. Next time, for sure.

For those who are familiar with Park Street in Calcutta, my favorite coffee shop, Barista, has closed shop! Not sure why. However, don't even bother going to Flury's as it has lost all of it's old charm, service and quality. It's a shame. If you're looking for a delicious chicken/mutton roll, try Golden Spoon, across from Sourav's. It's one of the best.

Bold, Vibrant or Toned Down, Cool - Rajboori has it all..

2009-10-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to spruce up your home with some fun and bold colors this winter or looking to curl up with some soft, neutral, cool tones? Whatever your wish is, RAJBOORI has it all.

Now pillows are available without the gold fringes. Stop by at Provide to select your Rajboori pillow or throw.

Create Your Own Style with Rajboori

2009-10-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people ask me, how can I best mix the different Rajboori pieces to create an elegant, vibrant and fun look for my bedroom.

To help our creative and adventurous customers, here are some suggested styling options. You can see how versatile and mix and match this collection is! Just remember, creativity knows no bounds and with Rajboori, your options are limitless! So, have fun!

1. Rangoli Quilt and Coverlets in Fuchsia and piled high with soft pillows. 2. Rangoli Quilt with Teal Throw/Coverlet and lots of pillows. 3. Fuchsia Throw/Coverlet with Holi Duvet Shams and Rangoli Quilt.

4. Holi Quilt with Teal and Fuchsia Throw/Coverlet. 5. Holi Graphite Duvet and Shams with Rangoli accent pillows. 6. Rangoli Quilt and Teal Throw/Coverlet mixed with Holi, Rangoli and Mookti pillows

Maison, Rajboori and Europe...

2009-10-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to write about our great experience at Maison & Objet and Paris but life of an entrepreneur has me juggling too many balls to be able to sit and write. However, I felt it would be great to put down a few thoughts.

This being our first time at this amazing show, where some of the brightest stars in the design world get to display their talent, we went with very low expectations and an open mind to absorb all that we could learn. And, boy did we learn!

Rajboori had an amazing spot very close to the entrance in Hall 2 and surrounded by textile industry veterans such as Anke Drechsel, Margo Shelby, Decopur, Lisa Corti, Deschamps, and more. My special thanks goes to Anke and Margo for being so supportive and showering us with valuable insights and advice those 5 days!

Our Holi Quilt was a show stopper and we had people stop and pick up catalogs, brochures and ask more about the unique and quite unfamiliar Peace Silk. We also got placed in great stores like "nanimarquina" in Barcelona, Blanket Store in Frankfurt and Unternehmenform in Stuttgart. Buyers, interior designers, personal shoppers, textile designers were all intrigued with our vibrant collection. Thanks to all who stopped by and loved our collection!

Some key points to note:
- From our observation and the feedback we got from veterans, there was significantly low attendance from American and Japanese buyers
- People were buying but very conservatively. No impulse buying but they were willing to try something new, in small quantities
- Even the veterans experienced lower volume orders and mostly from repeat customers
- The display in Hall 5A (more design focused) was amazing but the attendance was thinner than previous years
- There were more people scouting than buying

Overall, it was a great learning experience for us and an opportunity to show our products to the European market. We hope to make the next show a bigger success.

In my next post I'll put up some Dos and Don'ts for any newcomer like us, how we looked for resources in Paris without knowing French and some great places to stay and enjoy.

I'll also explain what a "Bobo" is!

A trip to the Island of art and natural living

2009-07-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

To take a break from thinking, strategizing, planning, selling and more brain-wracking activities, we took a trip to Salt Spring Island which is about a 2 hour ferry ride from Vancouver.

I didn't know how much I needed this little getaway until I actually got to the island of peace and tranquility! The quiet solitude overhanging our rustic yet cozy B&B, the occasional chirps of a bird or two, and the gorgeous views of the water, mountains, and greenery from our patio transported us to another time. We somehow got caught up in the palpable Bohemian beat the island dances to.

Upon arriving at the B&B, I promptly inquired if their advertised wireless connectivity actually worked. Our lovely hostess politely explained that they were having some issues so it wasn't working at the moment. The look in her eyes said - you city slickers! Why do you even bother coming here?? And my eyes probably had the look of a panic stricken person who had been thrown overboard into a stormy sea! Noticing that color had drained from my face, very quickly she said I could use the computer in their office and she could get their IT guy on the phone to figure out a way to make the wireless connection work.

Having come from a world of IT, I knew that would be another undertaking that I wasn't particularly interested in on this little trip. It was amazing to note how quickly my mind was able to let go of the fact that I wouldn't be able to check emails or surf the web for a few days! So I asked her not to worry.

The next few days were absolute bliss. Salt Spring Is is a haven for art lovers as many artists have found a home on this island full of sunshine and beauty. We took the Studio Tour of artisans who allowed us to come into their studios to see their works of art - ceramics and pottery by Ruphi Ceramics (Annie was delightful), textiles from Lori Davies Textiles (Lori let me weave a little!), sculptural art from Blue Horse Gallery (Anna is such a great storyteller) and many more were our top favorites. One shouldn't miss the Sacred Mountain Lavendar farm and the Salt Spring Is Cheese Co. The truffle goat cheese is amazing!

The directory of Artists is available at http://www.saltspringstudiotour.com/#/artists/4531676470.

If organic food and natural everything is your passion then Salt Spring Is is your place! The food tasted great, whatever it was. Fresh, natural, and perfectly cooked. A wide variety of artisan cheeses and wine from two really great wineries (Garry Oak and Salt Spring Vineyards) are part of the "must taste" list.

An afternoon of kayaking, a stroll in the lavendar farm filled with English and French lavendar, easy conversations with people we kept running into all over the island, all of this made up a wonderful getaway before returning to the mad world of an entrepreneur.

Thanks to Salt Spring Island. Can't wait to get back there!

TiA Award - Best Eco-Friendly Coverlets out there!

2009-06-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

Is it the end of June already?? How time flies! It has been six months since we launched Rajboori in NY and now we are getting ready for our European launch through Maison&Objet in September! It's crazy but so exciting! Love Paris.

We just received our Textiles Industry Awards plaque for "BEST ECO-FRIENDLY/ORGANIC NEW PRODUCT - MILON COVERLETS"! TiA is awarded by members of the industry - retailers, suppliers, designers, and more.

Thanks to Home Textiles Today for sponsoring TiA and giving us this opportunity!

Life Cycle of a Peace Silk Silkworm - Why is it Peaceful?

2009-06-16T15:49:00.001-07:00

Click on the image above.

Did you ever wonder what the life of a Peace Silk silkworm looks like? How do we manage to get all that gorgeous silk from the silkworms without harming them?

Here's a visual representation of the happy life of a Peace silk yielding silkworm.

Now, you can sleep under our Peace Silk bed linens in peace.

Rajboori at Provide in Vancouver

2009-05-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

One of the trendiest and boutique home decor stores in Vancouver is now home for our Rajboori collection. Provide is a wonderful store located on 529 Beatty St in the trendy and up and coming Crosstown area of Vancouver, Canada. More info on http://providehome.blogspot.com/

Do stop by and see our collection.

The Rajboori Bloopers

2009-04-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

"All’s well that ends well" and "It is what it is" are the two main mantras I lived by during the sample development process and the launch of Rajboori in a terrible economy. I had my doubts about how we would fare as a newcomer into this already saturated market of home textiles. However, I always knew that our story was a really strong one.

Stephen's innovative designs, the gorgeous colors of the jacquards, the intricate craftsmanship -all packaged beautifully with the bow of sustainability and "green" tied to it would certainly appeal to a market thirsty for exactly what we were offering. Walking through the rain drenched city, sometimes flooded streets, almost getting run over by vans, buses, plywood-carrying men, rickshaws, and what not, enduring the stifling humidity, all became part of my patchwork of the birth of Rajboori.

From a design sensibility perspective, both Stephen and I wanted to create something bold, defining, other-worldly, and vibrant. The designs would be contemporary but the artisanship would be traditional. Now, looking at the collection, I truly believe that we were able to accomplish just that. How can one resist Rajboori?

However, not all what we undertook as products to be part of our debut collection was successful. We had planned on having some funky, unique, hand-painted floor pillows as part of the collection. The fabric was silk but in a different texture than the Peace silk. The idea was for the artisans to hand-paint some abstract patterns inspired by the jacquard designs onto the fabric.

Easier said than done. The process entailed sketching the pattern onto the fabric, then using certain azo-free colors to paint the designs. A few hand-picked artisans were asked to give it a shot. We waited patiently for them to finish and then came the task of drying these fabrics to see how bright the colors were and how the final feel would be for the fabric. The trick was, this idea of painting onto the this silk had never been tried before so we didn't know how the fabric would react to this treatment.

This whole process taught me a valuable lesson - during monsoons, don't plan on any work that requires the use of the outdoors. The fabrics were placed on a clothesline outside the workshop as the sun was out in its full glory. The sunlight helps bring out the true vibrancy in the colors and it's also a more energy efficient process of drying . All was fine, when all of a sudden, within a few minutes, hundreds of dark clouds came rushing to our spot of the city! We had to run out and bring the fabrics indoors to avoid ruining them. Huge commercial fans were turned on to dry the paint and we waited and waited and waited.

Once dry, with hopes the size of Mt. Everest, we touched the fabric with the design painted on it. To our dismay, the paint had dried to such a level of stiffness that unless you were an armadillo or something similar, lying on such a floor pillow to watch your favorite TV show would never be a pleasant experience. The silk being the texture it was, didn't like being dabbled in these paints and behaved very poorly.

So, to avoid future production disasters, we decided to table the idea of these particular floor pillows until a more appropriate solution was to be available. But, if they had worked out, they would've been fabulous!

The Rajboori Story - Design to Life - Monsoon in Calcutta II

2009-03-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

Aug - Sep 2008

I returned to the city where our workshops were getting ready to begin the stitching process. A plan was put in place so that we could complete at least one set of each line in 4 weeks, which meant, 11 products before I had to fly back to Canada. A tall order for such a highly technical project but my talented team was up for the challenge.

The Holi quilt has over 200 patches that had to be cut precisely in the right sizes and then stitched together to create the contemporary design that we now see in the final product. The circles were then appliqued on top with careful precision. The range of colors is truly amazing in this product and even though it took the artisans a little longer to get this done to perfection, it was worth the wait.

For maximum energy efficiency in production, all the fabrics are usually dried in natural sunlight so abundantly available in India. Since our collection is inter-changeable across product lines, the fabric production was also done in the most efficient process, hence, reducing wastage of raw material and minimizing environmental footprint.

Like I said, monsoon was in full swing in Calcutta. One of those days, as I was on my way to the workshop, the rain came pouring down. The already narrow streets of Calcutta were now getting jammed with cars with nowhere to go and water filling up every possible place that it couldn't get drained out of. I did have my rain boots with me, so I donned them on, and got out of my cab to walk the rest of the way to the workshop.

Needless to say, my fashion statement caught the eye of every rain-drenched passerby. These people having lived in this city for years and years, and having dealt with many such monsoons, found it very amusing that someone actually wore rain boots to protect their feet from getting soaked in the filthy waters of all the open drains around us! I, on the other hand, couldn't help but wonder if they were actually envious of my foresight and my cute little boots!

The designs were challenging yet fun to work with. It was not always smooth sailing as we had trouble keeping the cotton-like-jacquard tops to work with the smooth silkiness of the backs when the quilts had to be stitched through and through. Keeping all the various geometric patterns straight posed quite a challenge even for the master artisan. They came up with their own methodology and technique to match the various jacquard triangles.

There were many such issues but with careful attention to detail and skilled artisanship, we were finally able to put together our samples for our first collection. It was time for me to say goodbye to my production team in Calcutta and head back for Vancouver and then onto New York for our photo shoot and review of samples.

The Rajboori Story - Bringing Design to Life - Monsoon in Calcutta I

2009-03-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Aug - Sep 2008

Filled with memories and inspiration from our trip to India, the design phase began in New York, primarily in Stephen's studio. After an intense 2 - 3 month design process, quite a few iterations, we were ready for the next phase of Rajboori - Sample Development. This would be the phase where we put the skills of the weavers and the artisans to the test as our designs were by no means - SIMPLE.

True to what Style Noir says in their blog (http://stylenoir.blogspot.com/2009/01/step hen-burks-eco-silks.html), Stephen is noted for "his seamless integration of classic handcrafts and modern aesthetics". Our debut collection would be a luxurious blend of contemporary design and age-old techniques and craftsmanship.

Given the highly technical nature of the designs and the intricate details involved, I decided to travel to India one more time, to personally oversee and manage the sample development process. Our goal was to have the first iteration ready by September so that we could apply for the NYIGF Winter 2009 show to launch Rajboori.

Monsoon season was in full swing in the Eastern part of India but that didn't deter me from diving right in to the process. Armed with my design folder and Vancouver-proven rain boots, I arrived in Calcutta in Aug. The cool nights and balmy days reminded me of my childhood spent in this bustling metropolis where the Rajboori organic silk collection would take shape.

First, I made a short trip to the village, where I documented the weaving process and captured the moments through photographs. The unique and extremely geometric jacquard pattern was woven in looms with 10 paddles, that had to be monitored by two people constantly so that the weave would be done in the exact shape and size. Such intricate weaving technique is known only to a few master weavers, whose skills are preserved exclusively within their families.

The dual tones in the diamond shaped patterns were even more difficult to weave but when they were done, the final effect was much, much better than what I had imagined it would be. The women of the house also get involved in the whole process where they make the bobbins that go into the looms in which the fabrics are woven.

It's pretty amazing to see a concept design come to life right before your eye, step by step. In our case, the initial steps was long but the end result was worth the wait.

The Rajboori Story - Design Concept - Journey to India II

2009-03-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

MAR - APR 2008

In March, 2008, Stephen and I journeyed to India, mainly the Eastern part, to develop the design concept for our very first collection that would be luxurious, artisanal, eco-friendly, and contemporary. A wide variety of silk was available to us but we decided to use Peace Silk as our fabric due to it's amazing texture that resembles cotton mixed with wool with the sheen of silk. It's a very durable silk that offers everyday luxury. Peace Silk is also the only eco-friendly silk as the silkworm remains unharmed during the silk extraction process. It is allowed to live a full life and become a moth from.

Together, we travelled to the heart of the silk industry and into the homes of the weavers who create these amazing fabrics. Their skills are inherited from their forefathers and this weaver community has been practicing this trade for centuries. It was truly amazing to find that each home contained a loom. The expert weaver's hands flew through the warps and the wefts of the weaves, creating magic in the fabric right before our eyes!

We created quite a stir in this otherwise quiet village. A tall American, a somewhat westernized young Indian woman, and our Indian collaborators caught the curious attention of the young and old in the village. Wherever we went, we had a following of about 8-10 people with us!

The time of our visit conveniently coincided with the Festival of Colors - Holi, which is a celebration of the arrival of Spring. The colors of Holi provided us with some of the inspiration for our bold and vibrant collection. Holi is a colorful and vibrant festival where the colors of nature are replicated in the form of powdered color and applied on each other.

After spending a good amount of time in the village and the vibrant city of Calcutta, we returned to NY/Vancouver to develop the design concept for our first eco-silk home textile collection.

TO BE CONTINUED.....NEXT POST MAR 16

The Rajboori Story - Design Concept - Journey to India I

2009-03-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Through my writing I am hoping to share the amazing story of our journey of how Rajboori came to being. There are many companies that are born every day and each person responsible for making that happen has a story to tell. So, this is my story. Nurturing a childhood passion for entrepreneurial initiative and specifically in the realm of home fashion led me through miles of exploration in other worlds, gathering valuable experience, before I found myself here.

I met industrial Designer Stephen Burks (Readymade Projects, NY) at a sustainability seminar and that's when the Rajboori story began. Having owned a silk bed linen and fabric business (Melange Creations) in Vancouver, Canada, I wanted to explore a more eco-chic, sustainable, and contemporary design aesthetic for a new luxury line of top of the bed fashion. I also wanted to create something that would contribute back to the sustenance of an ancient skill and a community that requires serious patronage. Luckily, Stephen was intrigued at the opportunity and hence Rajboori was formed.

A lot of people have asked what does Rajboori mean. So, here goes - we wanted a name that evoked luxury but was unpretentious and fun at the same time. Raj as we know means "regal, royal" in India and "Boori" in Bengali means "old lady". Bengali is the native language of Kolkata (Calcutta). Silk being our main fabric of use is an old, traditional but very regal fabric. So Rajboori literally translates to "regal old lady".