Nostalgia and the rains tend to go together, so it would seem apt that a label, inspired by the two themes should choose the Monsoon-drenched month of July to set up its first offline store. Bengaluru-based Olie, the brainchild of former graphic designer, Amrita Nambiar, is now housed at a cosy space in Indira Nagar, with wooden fittings and stark white walls that allow the products to take centrestage. The home decor label, with cushion covers, lamp shades and table linen, also introduced their first line of travel bags earlier this year. Clearly, Amrita has had her hands full over the last six months. She tells us more about what to expect…
How long has the store been in the making?
I’ve always wanted a little shop. I’m old-fashioned like that! But in today’s online-driven world, we started to believe that maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do. And our online store does fabulously well. Around last year, I started to think about opening a store again and we did a six week-long pop-up at St Marks Road. It was a huge success and we immediately started hunting around for the perfect space for Olie’s new home. We found it about six months later, and here we are!
How has Olie’s aesthetic been incorporated into the store design?
I wanted the decor to be minimal, stylish and as natural as possible. We have an accent wall that is just cement blocks and everything else is bright white with wooden furniture, a copper and marble table in the centre and storage all across the store that are drawers made from banana fibre crafted by our artisans. The products are the main showcase all through, and my main focus was to ensure that we created the perfect backdrop for them. We work with print, and we want to showcase print in the most elegant way possible. The nostalgic vibe comes through in the breezy Mediterranean vibe you get as soon as you enter the store. Along with a cosy design corner where you can sit with us and design lamps for your home, we also keep travel books to browse through (and purchase) with our travel range and fresh flowers to fall in love with as soon as you enter!
Tell us more about the collection available at the store.
All our collections are finally under one roof, and now you can mix, match and shop leisurely ! It’s wonderful to be able to allow our clients to put different decor elements together and see how it looks in a real space. We have launched a new range of bedlinen with the store. It’s very exciting and available only for a short time.
Give us a peek into the line of bedlinen.
It’s a fabulous new range of quilted bedcovers and bedspreads that are handwoven and full of the most exquisite details in typical Olie colours.
What makes Olie stand out from the rest of the home decor labels?
We are not kitsch, yet we are rooted in Indian craft with an aesthetic that is minimal and elegant with a distinct island vibe. Our lamps change the mood of a space and create a beautiful statement all at the same time - whether it is a wall lamp, tube light shade, pendant, table or floor lamp you bring home.
Rs.300 upwards. At 80ft Road, Indira Nagar. Details: olie.co.in