The Upcycle Project

I've been hearing a lot about upcycling lately. What is upcycling? You know that phrase, ‘One man's waste is another man's treasure’? Well that’s exactly what upcycling aims to do. It’s the process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful. And considering the amount of waste we are generating today, I think it’s a very interesting concept.

The concept of upcycling is not new, especially in India. I mean I’m sure we’ve all seen our parents and grandparents finding new and innovative ways of re-purposing objects over and over until they could not be used anymore :) What’s new and interesting, though, is when the concept of design and aesthetic come into the process of reuse and these old, discarded items are modified to become objects of art and decor.

So when Amishi Shah got in touch with me to feature her new venture I was more than happy to help. Amishi quit her full time job to start a venture which she calls the Upcycle Project, through which she is endeavouring to make upcycled home decor become mainstream. Amishi explained to me that upcycling is not recycling, so as a result it uses less energy, which makes it quite eco-friendly.

Currently, The Upcycle Project is focused on home decor and more specifically, home accessories which are handcrafted with love and care. They specialize in creating both young and funky accessories as well as classy and stylish products. 

In the short time since its inception, this small venture is growing by leaps and bounds. Amishi’s studio is reflective of her passion for upcycling. She has experimented with cool new concepts like a paper mache flooring and 3D wall paintings that work with furniture pieces. The space is meant to inspire creativity and demonstrate what can be done with 'old waste' and a little creative thinking. The best part is, the entire project was fairly light on the pocket and it shows how frugal can also look pretty.

You can find out more about The Upcycle Project here.

[All Images- Amishi Shah]

India Circus Give Away

Back after a nice break in Singapore and what a nice time I had! Not the most relaxing of breaks... a lot of walking around, but had an amazing time discovering Singapore on foot. I’ve clicked tons of pics and can’t wait to share... but right now I'm going through the torturous process of sorting through all the images I clicked. However, since the weekend is almost upon us, I thought we start the fun a little early :)

So what’s this ‘fun’ I’m talking about? It’s another Giveaway on All Things Nice! And it’s sponsored by the amazing people at India Circus.

India Circus is one of my favourite brands when it comes to home decor. They offer sophisticated and affordable style perfect for the modern Indian. I regularly browse their website for hours at a time and add stuff to my never ending wish list of things for the home :) What I love about this brand is their commitment to introducing modern sensibilities to Indian aesthetic traditions. 

Established by renowned designer Krsna Mehta, this label has a number of collections ranging from home decor, fashion and personal accessories. Their designs are inspired from India’s rich and expansive heritage, its crafts, textile traditions and art, as well as from its flora & fauna and you can’t help but adore the juxtaposition of tradition and modern that make their products trendy, engaging and full of whimsy.

So getting to the good stuff... here’s what you can do to win. And it’s easy peasy this time. No hard work at all!

 This passion scented pillar candle with a cute little buti design and the 

lovely this Linked Circles Clear Glass and Iron Lattice Hurricane could be yours!

All you need to do is...

1. Visit the All Things Nice FB page here, and hit like, if you haven’t already liked the page :)

2. On the All Things Nice FB page there will be a post titled 'India Circus Giveaway’. Add your comments on why you think the India Circus brand is so cool and mention two of their designs that are your favorites. That’s it! 

I’ll be selecting the lucky winner with the best and most interesting responses. Winners will be announced Monday Evening so you have the entire weekend to think.