abacaxi SS22
From $95, www.abacaxi-nyc.com
Named after the Portuguese word for pineapple, abacaxi blends a tropical spirit with an NYC lifestyle. After a decade of experience designing for other brands, Sheena Sood first started abacaxi with a capsule of silk garments that showcased vintage embroideries collected in Rajasthan, India. Over the years, the creative project has transformed into a growing fashion label, one that allows Sheena to tell new stories with every collection, and to create more opportunities for artisans practising ancestral crafts that are at risk of disappearing. The Spring/Summer 2022 collection is a saturated explosion of colour, with pieces ranging from heeled flip flops to press on nails, shorts and shirt co-ords to maxi dresses. abacaxi garments make use of traditional textile techniques from India and all across the globe. Handloom weaving, mirror work beading, schiffli embroidery, and plant-dyeing are just a few of the processes involved in this collection. These pieces are perfect for the hot summer months, making the sticky, sweaty days a little bit more sweet!
PULP – Illustrated Prints
From £5, www.studiopulp.co.uk
PULP was born from the brand owner, Jaz Bhogal’s, fascination with the female form. Natural and soft curves and contours all lend to her unique way of portraying the beauty of the bodies we live in. One of PULP’s main objectives is to empower their audience with carefully curated pieces that speak on diversity and inclusion. The range of prints available showcase all types of bodies in a chic and delicate way. Bhogal has intertwined her cultural heritage with her love for western design practices beautifully in all of her prints. The soft colour pallets at the centre of these gorgeous collage prints will suit every home, no matter the style of interior. The prints come in a range of sizes so whether you have a small gap between hoards of artwork on your walls or a big empty space to fill, there’s something for you.
MEERA BEAUTY – BOMBAY BABY
$25, www.meerabeautyco.com
Let’s face it, South Asian women make pure magic with their hands. It’s in the DNA darling. Meera Beauty is a BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ makeup startup that is a feast for the eyes. When you go on their website it’s like stepping into the cave wonders, but our eyes instantly locked onto the Bombay Baby palette. This gorgeous 12-pan palette is inspired by the rich and colourful culture of Indian heritage, whilst still paying homage to the owner’s Atlanta, Georgia upbringing. A bright yellow shade named Turmeric and a deep green glittery shade named Jal-Jeera, are the perfect pigments to frame the window to your soul – your eyes! The Bombay Baby palette truly is a love letter to all of the children of the Indian Diaspora. Each shade in this palette is ultra-pigmented and formulated for rich and vibrant pay-off on all skin tones. The pallet consists of both matte and shimmer shades, so dive into the colourful world of Meera Beauty.
Alighieri Jewellery
From £210, www.alighieri.com
Alighieri’s beautifully imperfect style of creation is inspired by the brand owner Rosh Mahtani’s upbringing in Zambia and her Indian heritage. A demi-fine jewellery brand rooted in literature and art, Rosh sculpts each fragmented talisman in wax, a spiritual and cathartic process that dates back centuries. These unique pieces transcend anything on the market right now. The classic image of gold and pearls juxtaposed with the gritty hand sculpted shapes makes for a dynamic piece that will never go out of style. The brand’s ethos is to create pieces that only the bravest storytellers will wear. These delicate yet edgy pieces will become the modern heirloom, following in the footsteps of Mahtani’s grandparents that brought only their jewellery with them on their migration from India to Zambia in 1944. So adorn your neck, ears, and body with the finest treasure in the land.
See our full list of must-have products in the August issue of GAY TIMES here.