Cozy up wtih Kumbhakaran

Designer Kanika Jain Gupta likes to fuse the spiritual and mythological in her modern and quirky home d ufffdcor and accessories label Iktaara

Designer Kanika Jain Gupta likes to fuse the spiritual and mythological in her modern and quirky home decor and accessories label Iktaara

Who would have thought that 15th century Rajasthani princess and devotee of Lord Krishna, Meerabai would inspire city-based home d ufffdcor and accessories designer Kanika Jain Gupta to start her own label called Iktaara? But she did and Iktaara, a brand that is already a year old believes in making products that are a bit different from the ordinary. "I am a huge fan of Meerabai, the saint poetess. She worshipped her love through her songs that she played on her instrument the iktara, so I decided to call my label the Iktaara," says Kanika.

Kumbhakaran Bean Bag, Rs 5,550

Under Iktaara, the 26-year-old Kanika makes products like bean bags, cushion and bed covers, linen, diaries, playing cards, sleepwear among others. She also designs party invites and customises wall murals, wallpaper, collages and designs corporate identities and collaterals.

Her product line has a signature style of illustration that is quirky, fun and stylish. Of note is her new collection called Kumbhakaran Ke Haseen Sapne where a quirky slumbering Kumbhakaran can be found dozing away on a range of bed covers, bean bags, cushion covers, boxers, sleepwear and diaries with thought bubbles speaking about the subject of his dreams, that is food.

"It is all about getting in touch with your inner Kumbhakaran and your Haseen Sapne (the day dreamer in us)," says Kanika. "We are all lazy at some point and we all love sleeping and always hope that we could be granted at least five minutes more of extra sleep before we wake up. Kumbhkaran was granted a boon of sleeping for month and waking up only when he was hungry," she says.

Kanika believes that her products are for anybody who loves design or anyone who is fun loving and likes to possess something quirky. "There is no age group or gender I specifically target. We have designed stuff for babies and even guys for bachelor parties. Currently I am working on a project for a sixty-year-old member of the Aditya Birla family," says Kanika.u00a0

Kanika, who is from Mumbai, but now settled in Bangalore after marriage, draws her design inspirations mostly from Hindu mythology, Vipassana and Meerabai. She has studied at the Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai and has stood first in Advertising Art.u00a0

At: Orange Bicycle, Indiranagar (4125 5242), 100 Feet Boutique, Indiranagar (25277752)
Call: Kanika on 9980 80114
Log on to: www.iktaara.com or www.giftanyone.com to buy online