Goodies at Kala Aparajita

Every style diva has her secrets. So do I. When my friends gasp ‘ooh where’d you get that from?’ I just smile mysteriously. I’m feeling somewhat confessional today, so I’ll tell you mine: Kala Aparajita.

It’s on the ground floor of the VHAI building (near IIPM in the Qutub Institutional Area). Open the tinkling door, and you step into a treasure house. My absolute favourites are the silk mirrorwork bags in luscious colours, designs and all sizes. Plus spectacle cases, evening bags, passport bags, sling bags, potli bags, and handbags big enough to put those hobos to shame! I also love their ceramic pottery, especially the open-mouth froggy I bought the other day, that can alternate as ashtray, trinket-holder, or loose change box!

My other favourite is the miniature colonial almirah-shaped CD rack that has the daintiest drawers at the bottom. And oh, if you’re a stationery junkie like me, you’re sure to land up with a stack of those handpaper bahikhatas — with Mughal miniature and banarasi sari covers — one of each for yourself, and the others for gifting!

I can spend hours just salivating — Kalamkari skirts with flouncy gota hems. Tribal art friezes in wrought iron. Throws and cushion covers in a riot of Mashru silk-and-mirror colour. Elegant silver earrings, and funky thread-and-ghungroo jewellery. Jams — apricot and plum. Brightly coloured tile square pegs for the kitchen.

The best thing? Fair trade. Kala Aparajita emerged from VHAI’s work with artisans in its post-disaster programme (in Orissa and Gujarat), and the grassroot projects with low income group artisans all over India. So when you buy an evening bag, a big percentage of the sales money goes right back to the artist.

So there. Whether you shop for a cause or just because, I’ve given you my style mantra!

Kala Aparajita, Voluntary Health Association of India, 40, Qutab Institutional Area, Ph: 26518071-72, 26515018, 26965871, www.kala-aparajita.org. Prices from Rs. 90 to 2,000.