The Top 6: All About Designer Shilpa Rathi Design Showcase 2011 Finalist

Designer: Shilpa Rathi
Link: www.ShilpaRathi.com
Location: Fleming Island, FL

>> Click here to learn more about Shilpa, see her studio and hear her video pitch for her finalist product design

Design: Wild Indigo ~ Belize/Chauras Duvet Cover Set
Materials: Organic Cotton with Vegetable Dyes
Price Point: $499-$699 (Duvet Set 3 pcs. King, Queen & Full Size)

Luxurious. Stylish. Eco-friendly. My designs are a fusion of contemporary design of the modern world & ancient traditional Indian patterns. This duvet cover set is a perfect example of this fusion, boasting simple squares in Indigo on one side & a "Peacock-Inspired" traditional pattern I designed on the other side. The peacock is the national bird of India, and my favorite, as well. As a child, I often drew peacocks on my school notebooks. :)

• Shilpa's original entry with comments

THE VIDEO PITCH

STUDIO TOUR

I enjoy being surrounded by natural materials as much as possible, whether its fabric, brick walls, or exposed wooden beams. I like large windows that let the light flood in!

Some of my most favorite pieces hand-dyed in vegetable dyes can be found on the stair handrail or hanging on pieces of furniture around my studio, as they remind me of my passion.

FAVORITE DESIGNER & DESIGN

My favorite designer is Architect Louis Kahn & my favorite design: the Institute of Indian Management in Ahemdabad, India & Exeter Library

I still remember the day when I visited the most remarkable building I had ever seen in my entire life, the Institute of Indian Management in Ahemdabad, India.
I was mesmerized & could not believe, what a statement one can make just by the simplicity, use of natural materials & the movement created by shapes, forms & light.
When designing the school, Kahn put into question how and where people learn. Learning was not happening strictly in classrooms, but in the corridors and the spaces in between as well. That approach made the whole difference!

Kahn's presence in the 1960s signals a turning point in contemporary architecture in post-independent India. He combined visually compelling spaces with drama as the changing light transformed the sensory experience of being in the building at different times of the day and night. He devoted his career to the uncompromising pursuit of formal perfection and emotional expression & created transforming, remarkable spaces. He strived to create & design the spaces as monumental and as spiritually inspiring as the ancient ruins of Greece and Egypt.

Kahn, with his theories of the architect's social responsibility, particularly in mass housing is definitely one of my favorite designer/architect who made a huge impression on me & a huge difference in the history of architecture, design.

"Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love" ~ Louis Kahn

• Design Showcase Main Page
• Design Showcase Judges
• VOTING ON ALL 6 FINALISTS BEGINS TUESDAY, 10/4 at 1pm

3 finalist entries will be posted on Monday, 10/3
3 more finalist entries will be posted on Tuesday, 10/4
VOTING CLOSES on Friday, 10/7 at 5:00 pm EST
Two winners will be chosen: 1 judge favorite and 1 crowd favorite
WINNERS ANNOUNCED on Friday

Comments (11)

Design looks Unique & Elegant.....and this will add stylish Decor to any room.....LIKES IT :)

its a lovely product ..... getting more and more excited to see whats in .....god bless you extreme. Pash

Indigo looks like vintage one. Combination of Organic Cotton and Vegetable Dyes makes this product a top end. Those who will have this will be proud of.

Price point ridiculousness IMO. These aren't Frette for heaven's sake.

Thank you everyone for your time & comment.

@Pradeepsalunkhe: Yes, we definitely have a lot of happy, proud customers who love, appreciate & understand the intensity of work put in by each artist. Right form the artist who spends days hand-carving a wooden design block with a little hammer & a nail to the each artists who hand-block prints every inch of the fabric printed! It is amazing to see the dedication, passion of each of our artisans! Each duvet cover set is absolutely a master-piece & unique as it is hand-block printed one inch at a time, & not mass produced. Each of our proud customers know the joy of having their piece of art while pursuing their eco-conscious decisions.

~Shilpa

@sealbeachy: Our price point is very competitive, the lowest in the market for the quality we offer. Unlike Frette, our products are completely hand made, not mass-produced, machine-made products.

A few key differences:

a) Each of our duvet covers is hand block printed, not digital, screen, or machine printed

b) We use 100% natural vegetable dyes, which requires manual steaming, boiling, washing, and sun-drying 10-15 times; a substantial labor process. By doing this, we are promoting a truly green product and supporting an ancient dying art of "Kalamkari", which supports rural artisan communities.

c) We use 100% ORGANIC cotton (NOT egyptian cotton), making our product the greenest product available in the entire market

d) with Frette, you will pay the same or more for a non-organic cotton duvet, which is not hand printed and definitely not made with 100% natural vegetable dyes.

Thank you for your comment. It gave us a great opportunity to explain who we are, what we are passionate about.

~Shilpa Rathi

@sealbeachy:

Btw, if Frette were to offer the same quality product we are offering, they would charge you over $4000 for 1 Duvet cover set. Of the course, they could and they would because they are "Frette."

The only question is then, could they offer beautiful designs such as "Belize/Chauras," the one inspired by my childhood doodles? :)

~Shilpa Rathi

ITS BEST & BEAUTYFUL DESIG WITH COLOUR AND ALSO WITH THE ATRACTIVE PRICE

Beautiful designs. Love the "green" efforts :)

Chauras Duvet Cover Set looks amazing! very innovative designs!

Very beautiful! I would love to buy one :) Alas, I have not the money. Someday!