From designer wear to shopping totes, products emblazoned with Indian gods and goddesses have often triggered controversy. But some manage to sell it in a unique package that gets the nod of appreciation. Recently, Japanese brand Sailor launched the Ganesha pen, a limited edition of 36 pens in the world. The pen has Lord Ganesha inscribed on the body in Maki-e art done by the famous Japanese artist Kosen Oshita and the nib is made of 21 K gold. It is priced at `2.25 lakh. A tribute to Lord Ganesha, we find out what Indian product designers think about such a product.
“It’s better than using our deities on lingerie, slippers and other stuff. I feel when you’re using a Lord’s picture on a product, it’s important to ensure that it’s used without hurting the sentiments of the public. For instance, here, Ganesha is used on a pen, which is symbolic of a man’s expression on paper. This is something many would like to buy and appreciate,” says Anand, director, Studio 34, Design Art, Pvt. Ltd.
Others in the industry feel that there’s a serious demand for such luxury products with images of Indian deities, but it needs to be executed right. “The company called ‘Divinity’, uses Indian Gods on all utility products. They even have perfumes with images of Gods. But the way they make use of it makes all the difference. Now if you wear a shirt with Krishna’s image, it’ll definitely look cool, but if the same image is on a revealing dress, it’ll obviously create controversy. People in India are very religious and are willing to pay the price if the product clicks with their sentiments,” says Hari, director, Think Design Collaborative Pvt. Ltd.
Those with a penchant for luxury pens are willing to go out of the way to buy such a product. Says Sanjeev Khanna, a businessman, “Such products always have takers, despite sky high prices.”