Pom Pom Cushions available in our store, blue and white coiled bowl available in our store, other pieces via Shakiraaz
Shakiraaz is a homewares/homedecor brand that is a an eclectic mix of unique handcrafted products designed and made, by Melbourne based Indian born textile designer, Shakira Lima, with some pieces sourced from Indian artisans. We have featured their story before here and today are running a follow up story as the business is going from strength to strength.
The ethos of Shakiraaz is to house only handmade and handcrafted products, many of which are either one-offs or limited quantities, and definitely eco-friendly. Due to this philosophy, we also collaborate with Shakiraaz and offer some of their beautiful textiles in our store here.
Shakira Lima is the woman behind this brand, a Melbourne based Indian born Textile designer with a great passion for design and printing. Being a science (Genetics) graduate, Shakira was always inclined right from a very early age towards arts & crafts, and was greatly encouraged by her family to paint, draw and create. She comes from a family who all hand paint with oils and watercolours. “All artworks in my home back in India were painted by either my mother, father, my sister or myself, we hardly ever bought art from outside, but we appreciated all kind of art” says Shakira.
Indigo and white coil bowl- available in our store
How did you get started and where do you create your masterpieces?
A late bloomer to textiles I studied Textile design from RMIT Melbourne which kick started my career change towards the arts, crafts & design. Shakiraaz started in late 2012, with my hand painted one-off artworks, which I converted to cushions, handbags, scarves and wall hangings for friends and family. From there I steadily grew my business to convert my designs into printed products which I handblock or handscreen print in my little home based alfresco studio in Melbourne.
I love working in my little alfresco backyard studio, surrounded by my plants and my cats…it’s almost like working outdoors, and in spring I can smell the scent of fresh flowers in my garden which can be very therapeutic. I could not imagine myself cooped up in a genetics laboratory (even though some amazing work comes out of those labs).
Scroll cushions.Pink Medallion Linen and Pine Cone Cushion, available via our store, other ranges via Shakiraaz
What are your new ranges for Spring Summer /2014/2015 and do you have a favourite range?
Shakiraaz new ranges for Summer 2014 / 2015 have a definite tribal eclectic/tropical feel to it. I have always loved tribal, eclectic & almost Aztec elements in design, and really wanted to incorporate them in my range this year. Also since they are really quite “in”, I have used the pineapple block print with those elements hand drawn into that shape.
My medallion design I launched in late 2013, but have taken it to the next level by creating various colour combinations with different trims and on different weight linens. This design was inspired by temple frescos that I came across in Chennai (Madras-India) about 2 years ago. This is definitely my favourite range as this design has a special significance to me. I visited the temple mentioned above with my mother, who is my greatest role model – a strong and very sensible woman! I also love the strength of this motif and plan to do a range of throws with it very soon.
Pineapple Pom Pom Cushions from the new range
How has your business grown since we last featured you on the blog and what has helped that?
Happy to say yes my business has really taken off to the next level! This year has been so hectic, but in a very good way, with quite a lot of retailers enquiring about stocking my products and quite a few overseas orders from Europe and America. I can definitely attribute this to instagram, which I started a little over a year ago. I started by first posting images of my travels in India and then went on to styling my products myself in my home, which I use daily in my posts. I love this platform as it helps connect like minded people and is so pictorial which is fantastic inspiration for creative minds. It also helps a business to showcase a range instantly, and as you want to. I have also met many amazing people while on instagram that I intend to keep in touch with for a long time….like yourself Helen Edwards!!
Do you have any experience in styling and interiors or just a passion and natural talent?
I have not done any course in interiors or styling so could safely say that yes I think I do have a natural flair for it and always get ideas by looking at others amazing posts and pages, magazines etc.
Can you tell us about a few of your collaborations
I have collaborated with a Amadea Sagonea from fatpoppi in creating a small one-off line of lampshades, which Amadea beautifully handcrafted and I printed the fabric design for the shade. Each lampshade has a retro base and handprinted fabric shade, all handmade in Melbourne…..they are right now at a Christmas special at Fatpoppi.
I was also recently involved with Jesscia Viscarde from The Eclectic Creative Blog in a giveaway with Frankie Gusti, where aftter the giveaway Jess styled some of my pineapple cushions most kindly to include them on my Instragram page & website. Thank you Jess! A few more collaborations are planned in the coming new year, quite excited about them!!
Where to next for Shakiraaz?
I definitely want to do a trade fair in the near future and I am planning on expanding my range to include more handprinted throws, dohars and ottomans in the new year – all in the pipeline. Since my forte is definitely hand painting and printing I really want to do a few one-off artworks which I can then print onto cushions etc, as a special line. I would also love to be featured in Inside Out, Home Beautiful, Vogue Living & Real Living…hopefully in the new year, I am working hard towards that!! I would love to extend my products to interior designers and stylists in their projects and lines…..so many exciting things I would love to be working on and achieve!
Are you a cushion addict like me?
You can see some of the range on our store here and the full range via Shakiraaz
Find her on Instagram here
Helen
xx