LEADERS TO WATCH

We spoke to design personalities who are living life with a purpose every single day

GLASS FOREST IS ALL ABOUT... we are glass lovers, passionate experimenters and crazy about nature! We are mesmerized by the beauty, shine and sustainability of glass and wanted to share this joy with the world.

DESIGN FOR ME IS... a creation of experience in GLASS. It’s also the process of achieving the said creation. On top of that, design is the result i.e. the things we see, we hear and we feel. For us it’s about taking products from usable to delightful and fun and then beyond – to meaningful.

THROUGH MY DESIGNS...

At Glass Forest, each glass product is more than just another beautiful design, it has its own character, unique technique and narrates a beautiful story. Be it the materialization of nature, an ancient process, or a culture, it lends meaning, authenticity, and elegance to everything we do. We take pride in each piece - employing local artisans and craftsmen to work on our products with utmost care, precision, detail and most importantly love!

I DRAW INSPIRATIONS FROM...nature as it’s mesmerisingly beautiful, and Indian architecture – rather the amalgamation of cultures and its representation in the architecture of India.

THE DESIGN ERA THAT FASCINATES ME THE MOST... Impressionism and art nouveau.

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT MY WORK... is exploring glass as a material. Also the feeling of delight on our clients’ faces, when they see the final installations.

THE CURRENT PROJECTS... Koi Pond Installation. It is more than just an installation, it’s an attempt to bring the outside world inside. The glass ripples are created in our studio by slumping glass in our furnace at 750 degree celsius. These are combined with brass koi fishes and installed using mirror polished and lacquered stainless steel.

DREAM PROJECT...A glass installation, at Delhi airport and then others.

SIROHI IS ALL ABOUT... making functional objects that make people slow down and reminiscence of a life that was simple, and hopefully this process will bring back the simplicity of our shared past, while slowly composing the story of our future.

DESIGN FOR ME IS... taking cues from the many objects of nature that make us happy, colours that are mood changers to create functional products that represent comfortable conviviality.

THROUGH MY DESIGN... I aim to bring about simplicity in everyday living, revive India’s heritage and while empowering women who are the backbone of our country.

I DRAW INSPIRATIONS FROM... Brought up in the rustic country side of Uttar Pradesh, I spent a lot of time amidst the diverse flora and fauna at my family orchards in Muzaffarnagar city, so most of my inspiration comes from the earthiness of nature.

THE DESIGN ERA THAT FASCINATES ME THE MOST... Today’s design era of a perfect mix of contemporary and traditional.

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT MY WORK... it keeps me stimulated and rejuvenated, and challenges me on an everyday basis.

THE RANGE INCLUDES... furniture, functional storage boxes and outdoor furniture.

THE CURRENT PROJECTS... are for penthouses in Mumbai, partnerships with retail brands and creating an outdoor range of furniture using salvages of industrial plastic waste. We really define luxe-sustainable living.

DREAM PROJECT... to make a design lab in village Sirohi (which is also name of our brand and the fist village we started work at), where designers and artisans can co-create functional objects of everyday use.

TPC HOME IS ALL ABOUT... minimalist living, but with classiccontemporary dynamism. It is an integrated concept store and design studio with furniture, furnishings, and accessories, and bespoke home design consultancy services for ground-up and renovation turnkey projects.

DESIGN FOR ME IS... functional, thoughtfully executed with precision, and beautiful.

THROUGH MY DESIGNS... I wish to capture the essence of our patrons’ life-journeys in the private and precious sanctuary they call their home. I do so by striving for a seamless orchestration across functionality, aesthetics, and detailing.

I draw inspiration from...Cross-cultural architecture and art as well as the distinct characters of natural textures.

THE DESIGN ERA THAT FASCINATES ME THE MOST... 1920s Bauhaus

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT MY WORK... blending the soft sophistication of minimalism and elegance to create timeless concept spaces.

THE RANGE INCLUDES... statement furniture pieces, rugs, ceramics, and upholstery fabrics.

THE CURRENT PROJECTS... are mostly for private clients across Mumbai.

DREAM PROJECT... designing and styling a heritage residence by giving traditional elements a contemporary reinvention.

Founded by Pallavi Chandra and Deeksha Saini, Glass Forest started with the idea of celebrating glass by creating beautiful home decor products. Pallavi comes with a working experience in product design (jewellery and lighting) industry and Deeksha has worked in the luxury lighting industry where she fell in love with glass. Their brand offers anything one can visualise to be fashioned by glass, be it accessories, wall arts, chandeliers, gift items and many more.

In 2012, Gauri Malik quit her high paying investment banking job after discovering the village Sirohi in the remote corner of Faridabad outskirts. She fell in love with the scenic beauty in and around the village that boasts of pristine little lakes formed by quarrying and the Kot temple sitting atop the hills that surround it. Her will to bring in positive impact on the villagers’ lives led to registering The Skilled Samaritan Foundation as a social enterprise and Sirohi was to become The Skilled Samaritan’s first village project. To begin with, the foundation launched the Sunset Treks, a unique mutually beneficial initiative between city dwellers and the village, and the amount earned was spent in assisting the villagers with handicraft projects and selling them to people over the internet. The entire idea later led to the conception of Sirohi. Today the brand is known for redefining conscious luxury and uses jute and cotton or upcycled waste from plastic and textile industrial trimmings woven into ropes to make the end product.

With a vast experience in the creative field, Chanya Kaur has always loved to design and style. She always harnessed a desire to turn her passion into a career, to help people add dynamism, character and their own personal flair to beautifully crafted spaces. Supporting the family business in textiles and managing ‘The Pure Concept’ with her husband and partner Dalbir Singh, has paved the way for Chanya to grow into her calling as an interior design consultant. For her fabrics play a key role in deciding the mood and aesthetics of a space and yet she feels that they are often neglected in Indian design. Through her latest venture The Pure Concept Home, Chanya wants to change that mindset. The Designer’s Table at The Pure Concept Home store is where she helps clients design their spaces from scratch.