It's that time of the year when we take stock of all things Indian. The Guide decided to check out Art Meets Fashion, a design label that uses bags, garments and jewellery as a canvas to showcase images of Indian deities, tribal and folk elements and other ethnic motifs

A cursory glance at Aarti Verma's creations and you are convinced the 26 year-old is obsessed with faces. Peeping from her sling bags, garments and wooden jewellery are the faces of dreamy-eyed girls, a playful-looking Lord Jagannath, turbaned and mustachioed puppets and masks of stark-looking African women.


Krishna and Radha bag

Quiz her about it and she is quick to reply, "The face is the first thing that strikes you about a person. While ideating on designs, I find myself gravitating towards bold and stark faces. Perhaps, it reflects my personality as I am a bold and upfront person," she says.

Designs and more
Verma admits that art and fashion have been the twin passions of her life. After studying for a diploma in Art and Craft from the JJ School of Art, she taught the subject for a brief period, did a crash course in Fashion Designing from the JD Institute and taught herself jewellery designing.

Armed with these skills, she set up her label Art Meets Fashion in September 2010. Her product range includes hand painted bags, wallets, clutches, clay and wooden jewellery, tunics, kurtis, and jewellery boxes.
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"The products are a fusion of contemporary cuts and desi designs. Each piece is exclusive and takes at least three days to paint," she adds. She works with fabrics such as cotton, silk and brocades.

Explaining her fascination for ethnic themes, she says, "I love that tribal and folk designs are rooted to the land and each painting tells a story, unlike mass-produced items. Hence, I choose to include traditional elements that are in danger of fading away."


Rajasthani puppet tote

Verma follows an elaborate process where she brainstorms for possible designs by browsing through paintings and books. Then, she outlines and handpaints layer upon layer of colour and once dry, the designs are sent to artisans to shape and cure the raw material into the finished product.

Ethnic blast
Our picks include the Machli Jal Ki Rani Hai collection with images of happy-looking fishes frolicking on a blue watery background as well as the simple maroon clutch with the image of a sari-clad, bindi sporting lady.

If you love all things colourful, check out the Colour Block series of spray-painted clutches and the tops with images of peacocks.

We also loved their yellow totes with images of Ganesha and Lord Jagannath from Puri as well as the African tribal cushions and abstract-themed clutches. Here snake pendant is bound to win over lovers of quirky accessories.

Not one to sit on her creations, Verma is now focusing on creating a brocade wedding collection using embellishments such as ghungroos.

Email aartiaarti.verma@gmail.com / stainedcanvas@gmail.com
Log on to: www.fashionisnart.blogspot.com
Cost Rs 500 to Rs 2,000