"A lifestyle store with a difference!"
Tucked away among rows of cafés & lifestyle shops, Silk Road and Beyond is a veritable melting pot of influences from the Silk Route countries & products from India which now houses WorkshopQ products!
Silk Road and Beyond is a store with an essence of nostalgia, spirit of now and magic of dreams for a timeless experience. Silk Road and Beyond is a relatively new soft furnishings and designer interior wares store, inspired by the mystical caravan route, presents to you a fusion of cultures, art, heritage with a fresh modern approach. It offers the Delhi-ites a mix of contemporary, quirky and recycled lifestyle products. Take a guess at which genre WorkshopQ lies in from amongst the 3? ;)
They are telling us that they foresee our color pencil range becoming a hit! Go check it out!!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Namrata Narula of New-Improved talks to us
Initiated in January 2011, “New-Improved” stems from the age old habit of recycling. It redefines ideas of what can be done with waste in the form of fabrics termed as outdated, old and tossed out and how with an eye for creativity they can be transformed into useful bags. Namrata Narula, the brains behind this innovative concept believes in the recycling/upcycling mantra just like us so we decided to interview her.
Can you tell us a little more about “New-Improved”? :
“New-Improved” is brand that aims at changing our rigid ideas about ideas of fashion, consumerism, individualtiy, reusuabilty, emotional attachment to clothing and textiles at a personal/domestic level as well as the industry. It makes products from second hand clothing and discarded material which still have a lot of potential in them but are not being used and to explore the same.
What kind of products do you make?
Bags, clothing, cushion covers etc... and anything that the customer wants from his/her old clothes.
What materials do you use predominantly?
Denim, old and vintage saris, cotton
What gave you the idea to start something like this?
Well, the rise in consumerism and fashion changing at the bink of an eye and people never being stastied with what they have. Always buying more and more while the old clothes are being piled on and on. Shopping has become a pass time as our ability to spend and earn more has increased. For my love for clothing and old world charm. So, I chose to recycle the same old clothing which all of us somewhere still love and wish to fit into again. And promote sensible shopping and individual expression through clothing!!
What inspires your work/creativity?
The emotional, psychological value that we all have for the clothing that we own...the stories attached to them all. Which make us who we are! It's like not only recycling material but also recycling moemories!!
Are there any artists you look up to?
Yes, Mrs. Jones, She is a london based designer who I am completely mesmerised by and I look up to her for what she does. And Frida Kahlo!
Where can someone get their hands on New-Improved products?
At Sacha's Shop, Goa
Online: on facebook and Shopo
More coming up soon, hopefully!
Can you sum up your brand in one sentence?
Yeah, I can...Let's get wasted!
Some of her beautiful creations:
Woven denim tote made up of discarded jeans, men's trousers and a brocade sari.
Button clutch
We wish Namrata all the very best for her venture and hope that she is able to spread the message of upcycling as far as possible :)
Can you tell us a little more about “New-Improved”? :
“New-Improved” is brand that aims at changing our rigid ideas about ideas of fashion, consumerism, individualtiy, reusuabilty, emotional attachment to clothing and textiles at a personal/domestic level as well as the industry. It makes products from second hand clothing and discarded material which still have a lot of potential in them but are not being used and to explore the same.
What kind of products do you make?
Bags, clothing, cushion covers etc... and anything that the customer wants from his/her old clothes.
What materials do you use predominantly?
Denim, old and vintage saris, cotton
What gave you the idea to start something like this?
Well, the rise in consumerism and fashion changing at the bink of an eye and people never being stastied with what they have. Always buying more and more while the old clothes are being piled on and on. Shopping has become a pass time as our ability to spend and earn more has increased. For my love for clothing and old world charm. So, I chose to recycle the same old clothing which all of us somewhere still love and wish to fit into again. And promote sensible shopping and individual expression through clothing!!
What inspires your work/creativity?
The emotional, psychological value that we all have for the clothing that we own...the stories attached to them all. Which make us who we are! It's like not only recycling material but also recycling moemories!!
Are there any artists you look up to?
Yes, Mrs. Jones, She is a london based designer who I am completely mesmerised by and I look up to her for what she does. And Frida Kahlo!
Where can someone get their hands on New-Improved products?
At Sacha's Shop, Goa
Online: on facebook and Shopo
More coming up soon, hopefully!
Can you sum up your brand in one sentence?
Yeah, I can...Let's get wasted!
Some of her beautiful creations:
Woven denim tote made up of discarded jeans, men's trousers and a brocade sari.
Button clutch
We wish Namrata all the very best for her venture and hope that she is able to spread the message of upcycling as far as possible :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Creative Gaga magazine product feature!
Creative Gaga, an enthusiastic creative journal showcases the best in graphic design, contemporary art, illustration and animation. In their July-August 2011 issue they have featured some of our 'designer stuff' in their Spend Thrift section.
Product descriptions featured in Creative Gaga:
Cardboard tissue box - Keep the creative glow on your face intact! This wacky piece has been put together with strips cut from cardboard cortons and garnished with roses made from aluminium scrap.
Vinyl record clock - The old strikes gold again! Made from erstwhile vinyl records, these clocks pop up any interior with its vintage feel. Memories of an era gone by tick-tocking through the present.
Kettle lamp - Just like that cup of tea brightening up your mornings, this time it is the ambience. Serving fresh energy with a traditional twist.
Zip storage jar - An encounter with the sewing kit and creativity zips open. The reject sartorial accessory takes a step towards all things eco-friendly. Weave non-functional zips on old plastic jars and you get these colorful and unique storage solutions.
Color pencil assortment - It's easy to add an instant spunk to your decor if you are in love for everything colorful! Made from color pencils cut and filed to precision combined with salvaged wood, the set is completely eco-friendly and 100% handmade!
Our product feature
Product descriptions featured in Creative Gaga:
Cardboard tissue box - Keep the creative glow on your face intact! This wacky piece has been put together with strips cut from cardboard cortons and garnished with roses made from aluminium scrap.
Vinyl record clock - The old strikes gold again! Made from erstwhile vinyl records, these clocks pop up any interior with its vintage feel. Memories of an era gone by tick-tocking through the present.
Kettle lamp - Just like that cup of tea brightening up your mornings, this time it is the ambience. Serving fresh energy with a traditional twist.
Zip storage jar - An encounter with the sewing kit and creativity zips open. The reject sartorial accessory takes a step towards all things eco-friendly. Weave non-functional zips on old plastic jars and you get these colorful and unique storage solutions.
Color pencil assortment - It's easy to add an instant spunk to your decor if you are in love for everything colorful! Made from color pencils cut and filed to precision combined with salvaged wood, the set is completely eco-friendly and 100% handmade!
Our product feature
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Good Homes magazine product feature
GOod Homes, one of India's leading home decor magazine, features our color pencil pen stand in their July 2011 issue. They recommend our bright pen stand to spruce up your desk in these grey monsoons!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Shop WorkshopQ till you drop on Shopo!
Shopo, an online store is the marketplace for everything with an Indian heart. Very recently started by 2 young vivacious entrepreneurs based in Chennai, Shopo launched with 20 sellers showcasing their plethora of handcrafted creations.
With fun facebook wall posts, promotions in magazines, blogs and continuous appraisal for their sellers, Shopo makes online shopping a great experience for buyers as well as the sellers. What we love most about it is are the small details they have added on their website such as the bio & profile pictures of sellers, comments page where buyers can leave comments on their purchases, a notes page where buyers can send enquiries to the sellers. Their tie-up with FedEx for their logistics has made the order fulfillment process much simpler and more convenient. Their focus is not just on the front end shop but have given a good deal of consideration to the seller evaluation aspects also.
We have around 30 products listed on Shopo. You can buy them here.
Our seller page on Shopo
With fun facebook wall posts, promotions in magazines, blogs and continuous appraisal for their sellers, Shopo makes online shopping a great experience for buyers as well as the sellers. What we love most about it is are the small details they have added on their website such as the bio & profile pictures of sellers, comments page where buyers can leave comments on their purchases, a notes page where buyers can send enquiries to the sellers. Their tie-up with FedEx for their logistics has made the order fulfillment process much simpler and more convenient. Their focus is not just on the front end shop but have given a good deal of consideration to the seller evaluation aspects also.
We have around 30 products listed on Shopo. You can buy them here.
Our seller page on Shopo
Friday, April 1, 2011
Our first birthday!
Its our first birthday! Can't believe how time goes by so fast. This past year has been adventurous, full of challenges, it has taught us that the smallest of experience counts towards a bright future. A big thank you to our retailers, the media, friends and family for their tremendous support and for believing in us!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Now Delhi at Flipside Cafe!
Flipside Cafe- an unusual Cafe with a unique take on home food cooking, with some funky decor and plenty of rock n roll now has WorkshopQ products on sale. For those who are food lovers and avid shoppers, they can now buy green, quirky home accessories while dining at Flipside Cafe in Hauz Khas Village, Delhi.
Looking at their logo, what do you think they ordered from us first? :D
(Yess u guessed it right, the vinyl record clocks!)
In the corner (outlined in yellow) we see our wall hanging storage made of old cans which they have used as a desk accessory. Looks cute and goes well in their environment!
Looking at their logo, what do you think they ordered from us first? :D
(Yess u guessed it right, the vinyl record clocks!)
In the corner (outlined in yellow) we see our wall hanging storage made of old cans which they have used as a desk accessory. Looks cute and goes well in their environment!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Selling our exciting products through ExcitingLives.com
India's most exciting website selling outstanding stuff - excitinglives.com, now selling green gifts too! From luxurious spa gift packs to the Formula 1 driving experience and from getting flowers delivered at midnight on someone's birthday to even the experience of traveling to the edge of space in the Zero Gravity experience, are some of the luxury services they offer and now they have added a color pencil photo frame, vinyl record clock, junkyard photo frame and a patterned tray to their vast product range. These new additions courtesy WorkshopQ of course ;)
Want to buy our products? Simply click on the link
Vinyl record clock
Junkyard photo frame
Color pencil photo frame
Patterned tray
Want to buy our products? Simply click on the link
Vinyl record clock
Junkyard photo frame
Color pencil photo frame
Patterned tray
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Blissful WorkshopQ shopping at Bliss!
Bliss - the feeling of pure and sheer joy! Situated in Mumbai's suburbs, Bliss is a lifestyle store offering blissful shopping experience to the customers who walk in.
Their store merchandising looks clean and clutter free. I find their ambience quite blissful actually ;)
Some of our products displayed at Bliss.
Their store merchandising looks clean and clutter free. I find their ambience quite blissful actually ;)
Some of our products displayed at Bliss.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
WorkshopQ @ Tappu ki Dukaan!
Situated in Mumbai's business district, Tappu ki Dukaan is an out of the ordinary store which one absolutely can't miss! They house the most unconventional home accessories ranging from clocks, vases, pouches to modern kitchen accessories. Our clocks and trays were an instant hit there :)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Another step into Bangalore!
A kitschy store of global style - Chilli Billi, in Bangalore's Indiranagar area now houses WorkshopQ products! Chilli Billi absolutely loved our product range and contacted us to send of our goodies to them.
Their tagline says, "dont be silly billy, go chilli billi". Found it really cute :) A quirky store in a quirky neighbourhood, what more could we ask for!
Their tagline says, "dont be silly billy, go chilli billi". Found it really cute :) A quirky store in a quirky neighbourhood, what more could we ask for!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Chennai it is!
Masala Chai, a whimsical store in Chennai started by an avid blogger for her love for showcasing the creativity of South Asian heritage from around the world. And of course we started our first supply to them as well :)
(I love their funky logo!)
A store done in all white interiors and to make it look vibrant they very simply stocked colorful products!
(I love their funky logo!)
A store done in all white interiors and to make it look vibrant they very simply stocked colorful products!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Colorizing suburban Mumbai with our supply to Dhoop Crafts
Located in the Khar suburb in Mumbai, Dhoop,is a boutique for hand-crafted Indian products....a one stop store for almost everything hand made. They feature exquisite craft collections from different parts of India, and anything that represents our unique and vibrant Indian culture!
They selected our vivid colorpencil range of trays, coasters, pen stands and placemats.
This is what their store looks like.
They selected our vivid colorpencil range of trays, coasters, pen stands and placemats.
This is what their store looks like.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A green fact about Copenhagen!
As eco-conscious citizens, we like to share all interesting green trivia with you that comes along our way :) . While going through my daily eco-friendly dose of web surfing, I came across an article about how Copenhagen is Europe's greenest city.
Styles, Ruth. Copenhagen: Europe's 'coolest' green city. www.theecologist.org, 16th Feb. 2011. http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/out_and_about/774428/copenhagen_europes_coolest_green_city.html
Cutting edge architecture, miles of cycle routes and green spaces galore have made the Danish capital a hotspot for green travellers. We’ve been hearing about Denmark’s whizziness on all things eco-friendly for years but what does that really mean in the Nordic capital of cool?
Host to the UN’s 2009 Climate Change Conference, unlike Cancun, Copenhagen is a city that practises what it preaches. The water in the inner harbour is so clean, you can take a dip in it while over a third of the city’s 1.1 million people regularly cycle to work, making Dronning Louise's Bro [Queen Louise's bridge], the busiest cycling spot in the western world. An estimated 35,000 cyclists stream across the bridge during morning rush hour, a seriously impressive figure especially when compared to London’s numbers: a paltry 20,500 cyclists in a city of 10 million people. And that’s not all. The Danish capital is a world-leader in clean technology and has pioneered eco-initiatives such as financial incentives to recycle plastic bottles and generous tax reductions when you switch to electric cars such as the Tesla. And the city’s green vibe has made it into just about everything: whether you’re looking for culture, relaxation or a serious party, Copenhagen has a green option for you.
Unsurprisingly, given the city’s reputation for being a street-style blogger’s paradise, Copenhagen has developed a knack for producing highly fashionable eco options as well. Home to some of fashion’s hottest green brands, the little alleys off main shopping street, Strøget, are packed with local eco-labels. Barbara I Gongini, Noir, Ecoture by Lund and Jackpot are just some of the high style, high sustainability brands available. With the city offering bicycle taxis and carbon neutral bus routes, the Danish government is expending all of its efforts to reduce pollution.
Whether it’s the residential area- Little Mermaid that floats your boat or the inner workings of a city eco-village , the Danish capital has plenty to inspire green travellers. From getting around to eating out, there’s always an eco-friendly alternative and it’s nearly always ultra-cool. And with the city leading the way in all things green, Copenhagen is a brilliant weekend destination that works for the environment as well as for you.
Styles, Ruth. Copenhagen: Europe's 'coolest' green city. www.theecologist.org, 16th Feb. 2011. http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/out_and_about/774428/copenhagen_europes_coolest_green_city.html
Cutting edge architecture, miles of cycle routes and green spaces galore have made the Danish capital a hotspot for green travellers. We’ve been hearing about Denmark’s whizziness on all things eco-friendly for years but what does that really mean in the Nordic capital of cool?
Host to the UN’s 2009 Climate Change Conference, unlike Cancun, Copenhagen is a city that practises what it preaches. The water in the inner harbour is so clean, you can take a dip in it while over a third of the city’s 1.1 million people regularly cycle to work, making Dronning Louise's Bro [Queen Louise's bridge], the busiest cycling spot in the western world. An estimated 35,000 cyclists stream across the bridge during morning rush hour, a seriously impressive figure especially when compared to London’s numbers: a paltry 20,500 cyclists in a city of 10 million people. And that’s not all. The Danish capital is a world-leader in clean technology and has pioneered eco-initiatives such as financial incentives to recycle plastic bottles and generous tax reductions when you switch to electric cars such as the Tesla. And the city’s green vibe has made it into just about everything: whether you’re looking for culture, relaxation or a serious party, Copenhagen has a green option for you.
Unsurprisingly, given the city’s reputation for being a street-style blogger’s paradise, Copenhagen has developed a knack for producing highly fashionable eco options as well. Home to some of fashion’s hottest green brands, the little alleys off main shopping street, Strøget, are packed with local eco-labels. Barbara I Gongini, Noir, Ecoture by Lund and Jackpot are just some of the high style, high sustainability brands available. With the city offering bicycle taxis and carbon neutral bus routes, the Danish government is expending all of its efforts to reduce pollution.
Whether it’s the residential area- Little Mermaid that floats your boat or the inner workings of a city eco-village , the Danish capital has plenty to inspire green travellers. From getting around to eating out, there’s always an eco-friendly alternative and it’s nearly always ultra-cool. And with the city leading the way in all things green, Copenhagen is a brilliant weekend destination that works for the environment as well as for you.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Stepping into the online retail market!
Quirko Shop- as the name implies, a store selling quirky & fun home accessories. Stocking a comprehensive range of vibrant products, they give their best shot to transform a regular home into a fun home! How could we resist supplying our product range to such kind of a store :)
After being guided by their whacky store manager, Snafu, WorkshopQ successfully sent its first consignment to quirkoshop.com.
We were excited to spread our cause of Upcycling and Green design through Quirko's extensive delivery destinations across India.
After being guided by their whacky store manager, Snafu, WorkshopQ successfully sent its first consignment to quirkoshop.com.
We were excited to spread our cause of Upcycling and Green design through Quirko's extensive delivery destinations across India.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Customised mementos - A beautiful gift!
Some time back we were contacted by a really sweet aunty who wanted to create a range of customised products from her father-in-law's everyday items to gift them to her children. She had collected old letters and a few items of clothing and was wondering how to use them creatively while still preserving the memories attached to it.
We did a range of trays, boxes, pooja stands, book stands for her. Here are some of those items :)
This was a really beautiful project which we undertook. It was a very touching gesture on her part to keep the memory her children's grandfather alive in their hearts.
We did a range of trays, boxes, pooja stands, book stands for her. Here are some of those items :)
This was a really beautiful project which we undertook. It was a very touching gesture on her part to keep the memory her children's grandfather alive in their hearts.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Feature on MishMash blog
Anupama, a textile/surface designer shares her love and passion for art, decor and everything creative on her blog - MishMash. She gives us the pleasure of featuring us on her blog as WorkshopQ- Scrap over!
Read the feature here.
P.S. you can get a sneak peak of some of our products in this feature!
Read the feature here.
P.S. you can get a sneak peak of some of our products in this feature!
Friday, January 14, 2011
The alchemists of Up-cycling
I came across this article on a green design blog and it seemed almost pertinent to what we do.
Brozek, Celestyna. The alchemists of up-cycling. www.greenbydesign.com, 25th May 2010. http://greenbydesign.com/2010/05/25/the-alchemists-of-up-cycling/
The key to a really fascinating and powerful and successful up-cycle is a certain amount of magic. Something kind of along the lines of “the whole is greater than the parts.” A transformation that not only makes you forget, but makes you dis-believe, the material’s beyond humble origins.
Platinum Dirt started by a duo of an engineer and fashion designer, they transform scrappy dirty car seats into leather jackets and accessories as icons of the apparel world, something more than status symbols; symbols of the singularity of a culture and of a movement towards global responsibility.
Gulnur Ozdaglar of Ankara, Turkey shows some amazing alchemy from her line called ‘tertium non data’. She explains this term as , “tertium non data translated from latin means: the third is not given. it is an alchemic term which refers to the process of combining two disparate elements to create a new, third element. the process of transformation is a mystery – an unknown…” With the simple tools of an open flame, scissors, a knife and a soldering iron, she transforms soda bottles into jewelry, bowls, and even plastic “petal” chandeliers, which look like the most expensive Venetian glass.
She makes the point that, “Recycling is not one of the bigger issues in Turkey, as we are dealing with unemployment, human rights and more, but I think it is everyone’s responsibility to live without harming the earth….I, all of my friends, and all of my neighbors, did not put one single bottle to waste last year. I make something out of all of them.”
The concept of creative up-cycling has started gaining momentum all across the world. With a growing number of eco-conscious citizens, we hope to see more and more unconventional forms of recycling come to light.
Brozek, Celestyna. The alchemists of up-cycling. www.greenbydesign.com, 25th May 2010. http://greenbydesign.com/2010/05/25/the-alchemists-of-up-cycling/
The key to a really fascinating and powerful and successful up-cycle is a certain amount of magic. Something kind of along the lines of “the whole is greater than the parts.” A transformation that not only makes you forget, but makes you dis-believe, the material’s beyond humble origins.
Platinum Dirt started by a duo of an engineer and fashion designer, they transform scrappy dirty car seats into leather jackets and accessories as icons of the apparel world, something more than status symbols; symbols of the singularity of a culture and of a movement towards global responsibility.
Gulnur Ozdaglar of Ankara, Turkey shows some amazing alchemy from her line called ‘tertium non data’. She explains this term as , “tertium non data translated from latin means: the third is not given. it is an alchemic term which refers to the process of combining two disparate elements to create a new, third element. the process of transformation is a mystery – an unknown…” With the simple tools of an open flame, scissors, a knife and a soldering iron, she transforms soda bottles into jewelry, bowls, and even plastic “petal” chandeliers, which look like the most expensive Venetian glass.
She makes the point that, “Recycling is not one of the bigger issues in Turkey, as we are dealing with unemployment, human rights and more, but I think it is everyone’s responsibility to live without harming the earth….I, all of my friends, and all of my neighbors, did not put one single bottle to waste last year. I make something out of all of them.”
The concept of creative up-cycling has started gaining momentum all across the world. With a growing number of eco-conscious citizens, we hope to see more and more unconventional forms of recycling come to light.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Entering Pune
2011 is here already with us taking our first step in Pune!
Pune - a mini eclectic Mumbai, brimming with excited college going students, devotees clad in maroon Osho robes, a 'chilled' out lifestyle and a store called Either Or celebrating creativity from small towns, villages and metros. Having created a niche for themselves in the market, Either Or describes itself as a comfortable yet stylish, reasonable yet innovative, functional yet beautiful, freaky yet meaningful, on the edge yet centered; Pune's favourite alternative lifestyle store. Doesn't their tagline sound similar to that of WorkshopQ?? They chose mostly our range of waste aluminium and old cardboard products.
Think our products will do great here as the quirky entrance certainly looks welcome to all :)
Either Or store facade
Pune - a mini eclectic Mumbai, brimming with excited college going students, devotees clad in maroon Osho robes, a 'chilled' out lifestyle and a store called Either Or celebrating creativity from small towns, villages and metros. Having created a niche for themselves in the market, Either Or describes itself as a comfortable yet stylish, reasonable yet innovative, functional yet beautiful, freaky yet meaningful, on the edge yet centered; Pune's favourite alternative lifestyle store. Doesn't their tagline sound similar to that of WorkshopQ?? They chose mostly our range of waste aluminium and old cardboard products.
Think our products will do great here as the quirky entrance certainly looks welcome to all :)
Either Or store facade
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