The Gateway to Design
Furniture designer Anjali Mody’s mantra is to convert abstract inspirations from cultural aspects of everyday life into eclectic pieces.
Lines lend linearity to the chaotic city of Mumbai, be it queues at train stations, bumper to bumper traffic during rush hour or the archaic overhead wires that slice through its grey skies. But much like the anachronistic remains of its once- flourishing textile mills or the scaffolding structures that line its facades, this is often overlooked by the average Mumbaikar trying to keep up with the city’s inebriating pace. Furniture designer Anjali Mody’s recently launched exhibition titled Double Decker takes inspiration from these aspects of the country’s financial express. The young designer’s idea behind the display was to bring out iconic aspects of maximum city and reintroduce them to city dwellers. From its diverse architecture and history to its obsession with Bollywood, every bit of Mumbai is cleverly etched into these innovative creations.
When Mody moved back to India from the United States in late 2009 she was confused. Armed with a degree in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, she wasn’t sure about how to channelise her creative ingenuity. So the 26- year- old started making décor pieces for family and friends. Soon word- of- mouth enquiries started coming in for her designs. “People started asking me to specially create standalone pieces like chairs, tables and cupboards,” she explains. Overwhelmed by this response she decided to set up a formal studio and started Josmo, her furniture design boutique in Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi area.
For someone who is the granddaughter of former attorney general Soli Sorabjee and daughter of corporate lawyer Zia Mody and businessman Jaydev Mody, being in the creative field wasn’t an easy option. “I have to admit that my parents were apprehensive about my career choice,” she says.
This new kid on the block showcased her Mumbaiinspired collection which includes pieces like the Bom Messa table, which has a colourful transparent acrylic top and is inspired by the city’s nickname ‘ good little bay’ and portrays the amalgam of its seven islands. Similarly, there are pieces like the Pixa sofa, Pixa side tables, Laser Cut table, Zamana lounge chair and foot rest which are designed to portray the metropolis’ evolving architecture, heritage monuments and diverse visual landscape.
Though Mody and her team were ready with the designs for over a year, they kept developing them till they reached a saturation point. “For people to enjoy the pieces it was necessary that we were bored of them,” she explains. With a belief that “collaboration is the future of design,” she decided to bring on board budding fashion designer Akshay Tyagi who based his apparel designs on the same subject.
Mody’s design philosophy is experimental. She takes the ordinary and flips it on its head. “I love to get a reaction to my pieces. Will they be loved or hated, or will people learn to love them? I want the piece to be interactive,” she gushes. Thanks to the popularity of Josmo and its products in the financial hub of India, next year the workshop will move on to Alibaug, located on the outskirts of Mumbai. This will ensure she has a free hand and plenty of space to give vent to her creativity. “I work by the virtue that ‘ thoughts become things’ and this helps me in the challenge of converting intangible ideas into tangible objects,” says the passionate designer who is clearly looking at the big picture.