Gifting is one of the oldest human traditions, extending even into mythology. For example, our Ramayan and Mahabharat have multiple instances of gifts being exchanged (and some of those gifts were entire kingdoms!) and the New Testament starts with the kingly gifts of the Three Wise Men to Jesus. Gifts initially started off as obligatory goods that were exchanged between noblemen and kings in the past. Surprisingly, this tradition just got better with time: gifts started being exchanged during festivals first. Finally, gifts were given on any occasion that called for celebration and happiness, and the feeling of anticipation that comes with receiving a gift is a large reason that the tradition has grown and survived intact even today. Of course, over the millenia that gifting has been in vogue, there have been some gifts that have stood out. For instance, take the city of Bombay itself. In the 17th Century, Catherine of Braganza married King Charles of England. Her dowry included two islands – those of Bombay and Tangier. Nowadays, the value of individual gifts seems to be shrinking, at least in comparison to the cities and fabulous amounts of wealth that were once passed around.

Nowadays, gifting has many aspects. There are, of course, gifts exchanged on festivals as there have always been. There are gifts that are given on auspicious occasions such as the birth of a child, a marriage, an anniversary or a professional achievement. There are corporate gifts, that mark achievements in the office sphere where most of us spend most of our lives. There are once in a lifetime gifts that are sometimes made as endowments to schools and universities or are made to entities in recognition of the work they have done.

Luxury gifting is a sector that has taken off in the past few years, especially online. All gifting works to strengthen the emotional bond between the gifter and the receiver, and luxury gifting cranks this up to 11. Luxury gifting is dominated by jewellery and lingerie, and every luxury gift stays in the mind of the receiver for years. The reason is simple: picking out an elegant, timeless work of art for someone you love is the ultimate expression of your regard for that person and shows your good taste and judgement.

Shaze is the ideal gift brand. We can create completely customized pieces for you to gift, so that you can be sure that your gift will last for ever in the minds of the recipient. Our sterling silver pieces are crafted to represent permanence and the emotion behind your gift. For example, the chessboard below is something that we think can become an heirloom in time. The silver electroform legs with a wooden base and the silver pieces combine to take you into the realm of the rajahs who once played chess with just such pieces. It can be used for competitive chess or a mentally stimulating evening with family. A perfect gift!

Ask a layperson what design is, and chances are your answer will be that design is a sketch, an object or a work of art. Very few people think of design in a holistic way, as something that continues on all the way till it is finally used. The user experience is just as integral to great design as is the initial concept, the piece that is created.

So the work on a design does not end with just creating a product and placing it on the shelves. Design is a living, breathing thing; it takes on new life of its own in its owner’s hands. Its ultimate success depends on whether the owner considers it good design, on whether it satisfies his or her needs.

Therefore, it is extremely important for the discerning designer to exactly understand the customer’s need. Especially in the luxury goods segment, customization is key. No user will be completely satisfied until (s)he is given a tailored work of art.

We experienced this first hand at Shaze, a short time ago. One of our clients entertains often; he maintains a grand lifestyle. Giving him a design that he is instantly happy with is not easy! He came to us and told us of his need – he wanted a champagne bucket for his bar that would stand out, that would be worthy of the celebratory drinks that would be poured from it. We could have used an off the shelf design and given him just another champagne holder. And we would have failed if we had taken that route.

What we did was to realize that every commission was unique and special, that we would have to exactly understand his needs before even starting the physical design of the piece. Therefore, we spent time to understand the background of the bucket, how it would interact with its surroundings, and what exactly the final owner wanted. When we finally created our design for him, he was blown away, and still uses it to this day. In fact, he thanks us every time he welcomes a guest to his bar.

A snapshot of the piece we created for him can be seen below; its simple elegance definitely belies the amount of time we put into its design. Enjoy its design – it is solid silver and weighs all of 3730 grams.

This illustrates the philosophy we hold to in our design; we do not take a narrow view of design as being a work of art that is created in isolation and shipped to anonymous, faceless consumers. Rather, the essential first step we take is to exactly understand our clientele’s needs, and only when we are confident that we know this do we go on to the remaining part of the design.

After all, every customer is special.

What do you think of our design philosophy? Tell us in the Comments Section!

A simple exercise: sit and write down the names of any ten luxury brands. After this, write down the countries they come from, and you will realize that all of them were born within five hundred miles of each other.

Almost all the luxury brands that dominate the world today originated in Europe a few hundreds of years ago. This stunning dominance has a simple explanation. The luxury goods market started out in Europe, the hotbed of culture after the Medieval period. Even after it started, there was a constant demand for luxury goods in Europe, even when wars, disease and famine devastated whole countries. There was always a class of rich people that could pay for luxury, for whom luxury was an essential part of life. This constant consumption market for luxury kept Europe at the top of the food chain for a very long term, and created a steady stream of names like Cartier, Chanel, Aigner, Mont-blanc and hundreds of others that arose out of the huge market that was Europe, and became household names worldwide.

But this could change very quickly in the next few decades. The centre of the luxury industry is slowly shifting towards the east, and my strong hunch is that India and China specifically will become important players in the luxury business, and will spawn brands that take their place in the upper echelon of luxury brands worldwide. These markets have traditionally been smaller consumers of luxury products than Europe, but the demand is growing staggeringly fast.

India is the fastest growing of these new markets, and possibly the most fascinating. The world has already started sitting up and taking notice – just think of how many designers use the sari or salwar today as a key motif in their shows – Michelle Lau had an entire sari based collection. The Nehru jacket is another uniquely Indian creation that has turned heads worldwide. But do we have the market in our own country for luxury – without which we will never be truly huge? My sense is, yes, and this market will grow exponentially over the next twenty years. By 2020, India will have at least a million millionaires. As the consumer’s wallet gets fatter, he/she will start looking at luxury as a realistic lifestyle choice.

And the greatest advantage that we have in India is that we have a long history of luxury. The princes of imperial India extended their patronage to young European brands – the pagoda-style tiara that Cartier made for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was integral in making the world sit up and take notice of what was then a relatively young brand – it wasn’t even a century old! With both the history and the resources, it only remains for India to adopt the attitude of taking a leadership role in this business, and this is changing now as well – whether we speak of a Tata that has acquired the Jaguar or the Corus to dominate worldwide, or of a Mittal Steel that has put its stamp on the world’s most traditional industry.

Folks – we live in exciting times for the luxury business, and India will be the most exciting place to be. Happy New Year, and here’s to a decade of luxury!

At Shaze, we recognize that innovation and leadership in luxury design are absolutely essential to take advantage of the great shift eastward. Our creations marry the traditionally western luxury business with thousands of years of Indian culture. Join us as we ride the wave that will make India a name to reckon with in the luxury industry.

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/29/the-great-shift/feed/ 1 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/13/spread-your-wings/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/13/spread-your-wings/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:55:27 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=101 Continue reading →]]> An examination of why the Indian designer community is held back. This is part 2 in the series of blogs by our MD, Samrat Zaveri. Do tell us what you think of this new series in the Comments Section.

I have a lot of friends in the designer space in India, and interact with them periodically. One thing that I keep hearing is that they’re not creatively fulfilled. They work nine hours a day – which is fine for India – on projects of their boss’ choosing. The problem they have is that the deliverables and scope of their projects is decided for them, and they don’t always have creative input into either what they’re creating, or on how to create it. And this got me thinking. In an industry where the designer is actually the most important person (as the source of everything that is finally sold), shouldn’t (s)he be deciding the direction of where the design goes? Shouldn’t (s)he have a bigger part?

For decades, the Indian designer community has not evolved, as have designers in many other countries over the centuries. The vast majority of Indian designers are still effectively sketch artists, inhabiting dusty back offices across the country. They never get to spread their wings and explore their innate creativity, the reason they got into a career in design in the first place. Many of them feel stifled by this and leave the field. Some settle for what they get, happy just to make a living. Ultimately, we never get the great designs that they could have created. Everyone loses.

So why has it happened? There could be many reasons. Some designers just do not have that fire in their belly – as long as they get a salary they don’t complain about the work. The vast majority of designers are stifled by their environment. Their bosses do not afford them creative license, either because they want total control over output, or because they are just not dynamic enough. This leads to micromanagement of how a designer works, and his/her wings are effectively clipped. Finally, the work culture is not always such that it fosters creativity. Short term thinking kicks in: the overwhelming concern in a project is time and cost, and how to minimize both. It is completely understandable that creativity and quality are often given secondary importance.

Another problem my designer friends have is with the slice of the pie that they get. They create exquisite designs, but the rewards do not always trickle down to them.

This is another huge problem in the designer community today. Copyright laws in India are not as sophisticated as in the rest of the world. When you create something for someone, you essentially sign your rights away for peanuts. This can cause a lot of heartburn, especially if your design goes on to be successful. And, more than money, it is the credit that matters to many. In India, it happens too often that great designs are identified with the label that put them out, and are not credited adequately to the designer. Think for yourself – how many Indian designers are household names, against household name Italian designers? I’m not necessarily saying that one is better than the other; just that greater designer independence, creativity, and identity in India can lead to great improvement in the industry.

It is clear, then, that every improvement in this field has tremendous potential. The creation is core to every product sold; the IP of the designer is priceless. If the actual creators are given more freedom and more ownership of their design, I foresee a giant leap for the industry in India. Give the creator his due, and there is no reason why we should not take our place at the forefront of world design.

Shaze is a place where this happens even today.
Our designers are given complete freedom; they are encouraged to explore, to take risks, to find out where their true creative calling lies. We are never afraid of the new, of the untrodden path. We are bold and pathbreaking in our design. We do not follow trends, we shape them. This attitude of exploration is the one with which we go to work every day. Join us as a designer to soar above your wildest dreams. Spread your wings.

Do you have a story to share about designers in India? Are you interested in a design career with Shaze? Do tell us in the Comments Section!

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/13/spread-your-wings/feed/ 1 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/03/that-belongs-to-me/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/03/that-belongs-to-me/#comments Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:53:54 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=94 Continue reading →]]> Starting today, Samrat Zaveri, our MD, will do a guest column on the Shaze blog twice a month on important issues. We kick off the series with an examination of the piracy problem and copyright infringement

A pirate was once a swashbuckling adventurer who roamed the high seas taking what was not his. Today, a pirate refers to a person who tries to encroach on someone’s copyright for personal gain. Over four centuries, the meaning of the word has changed, but not the basic intent of the pirate: he does not respect ownership.

So why exactly is piracy a menace? First, the creator of a work and its owners are the only ones who have the right to control how it is distributed. When you pirate their work, you are going against this right, you are taking away from them money that should go to them. Second, the proceeds of piracy often finance some exceedingly questionable enterprises. It’s the reverse Robin Hood syndrome – pirates steal from those who should be rich and distribute this wealth to those who should never have it. Finally, pirated goods are just not as good; it’s as simple as that. When undercutting costs becomes the only motive of a pirate, quality falls by the wayside, and the consumer loses out in the long run. He settles for second best.

To be frank, I did not think of taking a stand against piracy until I saw what it was really about. I mean, I knew it was wrong, but here’s how it really hit home.

We had a customer come in to our store a couple of weeks back. She was a typical customer – well-off, cultured, knew her stuff. But where she deviated from the norm was in what she did next. She asked our salespeople if she could have the designs for a couple of items, because she couldn’t afford them, and would like to copy the designs for production in a different store. When I heard about this, I was flabbergasted, and understood what piracy really was – an act that takes away from an artist’s hard work, that rips off intellectual property for short term financial gain. I mean, she probably didn’t even need the money. Needless to say, she won’t be visiting our stores again any time soon.

This incident got me thinking, and thinking hard, about property rights and protection of property. I was struck by the fact that India has copyright laws that – though they are streets ahead of what they were just a decade ago – are still behind the rest of the world. The countries that have the best laws are countries that respect their art the most.

When you step off the plane in Italy and go out into the streets, your first instinct is usually to visit the market. And then you are surprised, because this market has, in big black letters, the message: “People who purchase pirated goods will be jailed.” When I saw this for the first time, I thought it was an ingenious method of tackling the problem; penalize the consumers as well as the purveyors of design piracy. Only then can you squeeze the monster at both ends. The result – if you bring back something that claims to be Made in Italy from an Italian holiday, you can rest assured that the label speaks the truth.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have countries where the only goods are those that are copied, where markets change brand names to incomprehensible variants of well known companies, and change designs by miniscule amounts to avoid prosecution. India is closer to this end, but we are moving upwards, and this will only be accelerated as our anti-piracy laws become more stringent.

The piracy problem was once limited to physical goods. As with other less savory practices, it has also found its way to the seamy underbelly of the Internet. There are countless artists – musicians, directors, actors – who seek alternative careers rather than pursuing their passions because someone is waiting to snap up work they spend their time on for free, on the latest filesharing site. This is the true danger of piracy: it threatens art.

To conclude, I would like to say that the pirates of old used the Skull and Crossbones – the Jolly Roger – as the mark of their trade. Maybe the modern day pirate should think of doing the same – he brings death to creativity and honesty, and forces a generation of consumers to put up with sub-standard fare.

What do you think about piracy, about its prevalence in our society today, and about the best means to combat it? Tell us in the Comments section below.

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/12/03/that-belongs-to-me/feed/ 3 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/11/07/deities-in-design/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/11/07/deities-in-design/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:18:34 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=84 Continue reading →]]> Deities have been one of the driving forces of design since the inception of the field. The initial rock carvings in the Stone Age and beyond were either simple stories depicting events in everyday life, or were tapestries dedicated to forces of nature feared, venerated and thought sacred.

When deities became more formalized and acquired faces and histories, it became even more easy to dedicate works of art to them. The first manifestation of this was in exterior architecture. Every civilization built sacred places with their greatest wealth, and decorated these places with the most expensive jewels they owned. Many of these survive today; it is a testimony to the fact that people built temples to last.

Even today, sacred places are examples of great design. Whether you think of the great cathedrals in Rome or the magnificent temples, mosques and mausolea in India, dedicating a great work of art to a deity ensures diligence in design. Legend has it that when the craftsman working on the Jagannath Temple in Puri was asked why he spent as much time on the backs of the statues as on the fronts when nobody would ever see them he replied: God will see them. This is the key reason why religion has spawned good design: faith is a powerful driver of excellence.

Interiors are also often dedicated, wholly or partly, to religion. The trend probably started in ancient Greece where, literally, a woman’s house was sometimes her temple. Women often dedicated their lives to different goddesses – Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter and so on. They then had the places they lived in transformed to suit their internal transformation. From the writings and pictures that still survive, their houses must have been thematically perfect, with colours, aromas and objects perfectly in harmony with the goddess that they served. This has seen a renaissance in Europe over the past few centuries, with homes available in the custom theme of a particular Greek god or goddess. The system of Feng Shui in China aims to use the laws of Heaven and Earth to achieve better balance in life.

Jewellery, of course, is the natural form of expression of devotion. For millenia, mankind has dedicated every material that he calls precious to the Gods, and this has led to some of the most beautiful designs known to man. Long may the tradition of deities inspiring design continue!

Shaze’s silver collection includes a wealth of objects inspired by deities. The hallmark is, again, the faith-inspired design: the exquisite craftsmanship of these items is a perfect blend of the ancient identity of the deity and the modern techniques and arts of jewellery.

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/11/07/deities-in-design/feed/ 0 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/27/the-festival-of-light-or-of-gifts/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/27/the-festival-of-light-or-of-gifts/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:42:30 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=72 Continue reading →]]> The tradition of gifting is at the heart of Diwali. Gifts are not only what is bought and given to your near and dear ones; the tradition is embedded even deeper than that. Just think of how many different varieties of sweets you consume during the festival – someone has said that you make 4 varieties, and end up eating 40! Giving freely and willingly is something that makes the festival of lights a unique moment in the year.

 

Nowadays, gifts reach you wherever you are. Just think of the NRIs – those poor souls who, even ten years ago, were reduced to calling home and listening sadly to the tales of celebrations they could not be a part of. It’s all changed nowadays: Indian families are able to ship huge quantities of sweets (up to 25 kilos) to their relatives in the US and in other countries, and the advantages of Skype and other video chat softwares ensure that every member of a family can be part of every puja, no matter where in the world they are. In fact, the only thing they miss is the sound and sight of the actual crackers which, at least in the case of the sound, can turn out to be quite a blessing. Even temples in the US have become more enterprising than they used to be, and take the lead in organizing Diwali celebrations at a huge scale, which ensures that the spectacle of the most beautiful ‘special items’ is not missing

Diwali is also a time when the world of marketing goes crazy. It’s usually in a good way – most of us have seen the Cadbury ad about going home to one’s mother in the past few weeks and felt it strike a chord. But other marketing tactics might not be so tastefully done – what with crackers addressed to the Devil in Hell, publicity for Diwali movies reaching earth shattering proportions, and sweet shops having a field day.

The corporate gifting field has also expanded hugely in the past few years, mostly as a result of Diwali. One analyst estimated that, in 2010 alone, corporate gifts worth a whopping 3000 crore were exchanged during the week of Diwali. And they are becoming more and more exotic. Once, a simple box of sweets with a note was all that was expected. Now, the minimum ‘accepted’ gift is exotic jewellery or the latest electronic gadget. Even holiday packages are not unknown. And the trend of branded gifts is also growing, on the lines of the mantra: “Why give a gift when you can buy real estate in someone’s mind?”

Shaze is celebrating this Diwali in grand style. Over and above the other luxury pieces that you can pick up to add light to a loved one’s life, there is a unique opportunity this Diwali: an exquisite Krishna and Ganesh combination. The colours contrast perfectly to make this gift something that will stay with its owner forever. Pick up your set today!

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/27/the-festival-of-light-or-of-gifts/feed/ 4 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/25/italian-interior-design/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/25/italian-interior-design/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:22:36 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=67 Continue reading →]]> Italian interiors are special because they have been the best ever since anyone can remember. They rose to worldwide prominence in the early twentieth century, drawing on their rich classical history to create opulent interiors. However, World War II and consequent austerity measures led to a trend towards minimalism – steel based designs actually dominated a few decades around the War years. In the second half of the century, Italian design reclaimed its place atop the world in terms of stylish design, and took over the world of post-modern design as well. The message is clear: If you want your house to be distinctive, its interior must be Italian.

The fact remains that Italian interiors are perhaps the most important aspect of Italian design today; they are certainly the most visible. Their ubiquity in everyday life can be understood by the staggering fact that over a hundred countries have an Italian interior design chain of shops. In fact, numerous people have observed that the UK actually seems to have more shops dedicated to Italian interiors than it does shops dedicated to British interiors; a testimony to how essential Italy has become when it comes to furnishing your home. Elegance and luxury are the twin hallmarks of Italian interior design.

But Italian design can get quirky as well. Consider the restaurant within the maximum-security Fortezza Medicia prison. The decor is completely patterned around the theme of the prison; you can book special tables where you are literally behind bars, and where the smaller dishes are handed through a hatch, while a ‘waiter’ (dressed either as a prison guard or a prisoner for life) comes into your cell to hand you the larger dishes. It’s not just the interior; Italian design focuses on the last level of perfection. The pianist and the backing band (when there is one) are handpicked from the best musical talent within the prison. If you close your eyes and just listen to the music, you could almost imagine that you were at an A-list concert… but when you open your eyes, you look at your surroundings and remember that the pianist is probably serving life for killing one or more people. Even if you don’t, the armed guards at each door and near each table will rapidly dispel any illusions you might have. Quirky, yes, but also realistic – Italian interior design has the knack of transporting you across time and space and setting you down in a different situation.

Italian design often straddles the line between minimalist and opulent. Examples of opulence were more striking in earlier centuries; exotic wood and leather and stonework formed a cornerstone of Italian interior design in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. An enduring tradition from five hundred years ago, that has endured to this day, is that of grotesque designs on furniture. The French created devils on exterior architecture, and gave us the word ‘grotesque’. The Italians took it a step further – their bizarre designs on furniture that blended angels, devils, animals and creatures of the imagination created some of the most weird and yet appealing pieces of furniture the world has ever seen. Just imagine what a chair with a hundred different monsters worked into its metal skin will do for the individuality of your living room!

The message is clear – if your house doesn’t already have an Italian interior, get some Italian furniture pieces at least!

This multi-part series will focus on different aspects of Italian design, and will give you a glimpse into the greatest nation of designers on our Earth. Come back every 3 days for a new part in our story.

Shaze sources over 90% of its designs from Italy. In addition, a large part of the philosophy behind Shaze is similar to the Italian design philosophy – take care of the design and the product will take care of itself.

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/25/italian-interior-design/feed/ 0 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/20/shaze-opens-concept-flagship-store/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/20/shaze-opens-concept-flagship-store/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:51:10 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=31 Continue reading →]]>

Store Image

Mumbai: Shaze is delighted to announce the unveiling of its brand new flagship concept store at Infinity 2- mall, Malad Mumbai’s largest urban shopping center.

Thursday 15th September saw the grand opening of the store, which will showcase a stunning new in-store concept. The design was developed to ensure the new retail experience reflects the brand’s essence: “cutting-edge design”. The store will display all the latest silverware collections as well as signature collectibles. The store’s signature feature would be the color palettes which have been used to reiterate the design differentiation.

Store Reception

The new store concept sees Shaze “emphasize its mojo” through a completely intelligent design space and uncompromising quality.

The design of the store has been carefully considered to reflect these elements and ensure the customer is taken on a journey throughout the store which manifests the brand’s personality.

Store Interior

The Shaze Infinity store is the first store to take on this new look, which focuses on minimal and straight line frames in the store. The  color palate is toned with a captivating grey and white contrast, where white forms the base for the silverware and grey sets it off. The store has been totally lit up in a white mood which reinforces the colour palette of the store and also sets the perfect ambience for the products. The overall design sense is out and out international. The sleek proportions of the display table strengthen the minimal vocabulary of the store. The table at the window allows for innovative visual merchandising display to greet the eye of a passerby. The brand name has been brought into careful focus behind the reception table, which has been designed like two rectangles juxtaposed one above the other. The design clearly exemplifies the brand value of Shaze even at the entrance over a solid background at eye level.

Store Interior

The brand colour orange has been selectively highlighted in one of the niches forming the canvas to the product. In every element the design sets Shaze apart as a classy stylish brand.

]]> http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/20/shaze-opens-concept-flagship-store/feed/ 3 http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/18/italy-the-trendsetter-in-design/ http://blog.shaze.in/2011/10/18/italy-the-trendsetter-in-design/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:29:36 +0000 admin http://blog.shaze.in/?p=20 Continue reading →]]> Made in Italy.