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Indian kitchen utensils revisited with a contemporary aesthetic
Designers Nikita Bhate and Pascal Hien have launched SĀR, a new brand that reinterprets traditional Indian kitchen utensils and everyday objects with a contemporary aesthetic. The brand, based between Pune, India, and Berlin, Germany, aims to bridge cultural traditions with modern living through holistic design. Bhate and Hien, who first collaborated in 2017 after meeting at Fabrica communications research centre in 2014, share a common interest in cultural exchange through design. Their new venture, SĀR, focuses on essential items that seamlessly transition from the kitchen to other living spaces, such as bathrooms and workspaces.
The inaugural collection, titled 'Rituals,' is described as a radical collection of everyday objects that celebrate Indian heritage and identity while remaining relevant to a global audience. The designers revisit, celebrate, and re-explore the significance of these objects in hourly habits. Bhate, with her deep connection to Indian culture, and Hien, providing insights from Berlin, ensure that the collection possesses a timeless and modern appeal, prioritizing both beauty and functionality.
Each piece in the 'Rituals' collection draws inspiration from daily actions and traditional practices. For instance, the 'Flawless' rolling board and pin are inspired by the imperfections of hand-kneaded roti bread, while the 'Bay' chopping board features a collecting bay to facilitate the 'domestic production line process' involved in precisely chopping ingredients for curries. The 'Hover' lidded boxes are SĀR's modern rendition of a _roti dabba_ (stainless steel roti boxes). These boxes feature a curved base and a lid, designed to mimic a traditional _tawa_ cooking pot, and their shape is an intuitive response to the fast pace and immediacy required in roti making; the lid can also function as a tray or plate.
A recurring theme throughout the collection is the deconstruction of traditional Indian kitchen utensils. The 'Repeat' plates offer a fresh perspective on stainless steel dining plates, transforming them into stackable and modular wooden trays suitable for both food and other everyday objects. The collection also includes a series of fringed summer towels, named 'Rann,' inspired by the landscape of Kutch in Gujarat, crafted as thin textiles for their cultural and practical relevance.
The material palette for this inaugural collection emphasizes natural and authentic resources, including matte Red Agra sandstone from Uttar Pradesh, reclaimed teak, and beech and ash wood. Bhate envisions SĀR as a platform for future collaborations with local and international talent, driven by the belief that collaborative design can unite different cultures and contexts, creating designs that are pertinent to contemporary lifestyles.
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