Desi maal, foreign influence

Score some quintessentially Indian bags with international design sensibilities with 22.2 Accessories

According to Bangalore-based designer Richa Dubey naming her handbag and accessories brand as 22.2 Accessories was a kind of sweet revenge on her family and friends.
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This is because Dubey's birthday falls on February 22nd and the name would serve as a constant reminder for those who forgot her birthday.
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Dance Clutch, Rs 680

Jokes aside Dubey's label 22.2 Accessorise that sells, totes, clutches and chappals tries to bridge the design gap between what is considered traditional and the contemporary.
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"I wanted to start a handbag line which truly utilises Indian textiles and craft in a more contemporary fashion. I wanted to go beyond the Bollywood prints and heavy decoration. Our local artisans are doing some amazing work and I wanted to bring that in popular culture but with a fresh twist."

For her designs, Dubey (31) relies heavily on cultural references, textiles and craft. She fashions stylish clutches, sturdy but pretty tote bags in organic cottons, canvas, jute, raw silks, Mangalgiri fabric and block prints with interesting zip details in hand painted leather embellishments.

So you might have an elaborately made up Odissi dancer's face staring at you from a silk clutch or colourful threads stitched into leather patches as zipper details in a Mangalgiri fabric bag. Dubey's line of funky, wooden odd shaped footwear will also catch your eye.
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"Being an environmentally aware label, we try to use materials not very far from their natural finish. The leather used is basic vegetable dye tanned leather and is sourced directly from tanneries.

Ask her what the charm of owning a 22.2 accessories product is, Dubey says, "As a label, we celebrate individuality and imperfection. It is one of the reasons why we are ruthlessly limited edition and rustic in appeal. Each of our products are handcrafted and known for their earthy and whimsical look.

Her target audience according to her comprises today's working women who are forever rummaging in their bags and carry their personal, professional, financial and emotional baggage literally in their bags.
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That's why you will see several compartments, bags within bags, bags that can be turned inside out and several compartments to stash away anything and everything.

Dubey, who has studied design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi started 22.2 accessories in 2009 and is a freelance design consultant and illustrator.

While the brand will soon make its web presence felt in the form of an online shop, you can place your orders directly with Dubey once you flip through her product images on Facebook till then.

At Eka (25544371), Gangadhar Chetty Road and 100 Feet Boutique (25277752), Indiranagar
Call 9886896240/41675883
Email duberich22@gmail.com
Log on to https://www.facebook.com/pages/222accessories/136308276412052
For R 550 to R 2,200