A world of design
A product from The Chocolate Haven
Two young graduates from the National Institute of Fashion and Technology (NIFT) — Supreet Raju and Jasleen Kaur — were doing okay in their job, working on exhibition design projects for corporates and private clients. But they were not too satisfied with it, nor with the way things were shaping up for design students. Many of their contemporaries, who started their own labels or wanted to start something of their own, were not getting the right platform to showcase their products.
“Whether it was apparel, accessories or any other product, in the present world where everybody runs after brand value, it’s difficult for newcomers like us to get noticed,” says Supreet, who over a cup of coffee with Jasleen decided to do something more.
To promote themselves and their contemporaries in a better way, they started a blog Thank God for Design (TGFD) a few months ago. “With TGFD blog, we created a directory that has contacts of all the design labels. In a few months’ time, it became like a design directory that had contacts of the smallest design houses. It became like a forum where people were interacting,” she says.
That was their first step. Taking it to the next level, the girls are now holding a two-day shopping extravaganza Thank God For Design, celebrating creativity and original design in the capital that will see 35 young participants. “We are not hosting any label that is already well-established. It is just for beginners who want exposure. Most of them are NIFT and NID alumni, or people who have started up on their own,” says Supreet and adds that besides bringing together the fashion start-ups, the exhibition will also feature a lot of other people making interesting things like home-made chocolates, art works, eco-friendly products, etc.
Harshita Periwal, who started her company The Chocolate Haven earlier this year under which she produces home-made designer chocolates, thinks that TGFD is a brilliant platform. “We have a lot of talent but very few options to showcase. This is the first exhibition where we are participating. I’m doing all sorts of chocolates in more than 25 flavours, different shapes and sizes. While we have got a good response from the people who know us, the right exposure was lacking. With an exhibition, I’m sure more people will know us,” she says.
However, 27-year-old artist Anupam Tomar from art studio Arrested By Art, thinks TGFD is more like a social gathering for like-minded people that may lead to many more opportunities. Anupam, who has completed his studies mostly in the UK, is back in India to work as an artist. He says it was pretty difficult as an artist to get noticed. “New artists like me don’t get exposure and that’s where such platforms help,” he says.
Comments
itz a fabulous idea
MONIKA SINGH
12 Sep 2012 - 03:02
itz a fabulous idea
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