Adeela Abdul Razak’s Facebook page Madras Mambalam garnered over 200 likes in less than 48 hours of being created. “I recently exhibited my products at a flea market in Bangalore and it was big hit. I came back to Chennai with a lot of orders,” says city-based Adeela, whose product catalogue at present features cutting chai glasses, coasters, scribbling pads, glass cookie jars, pin badges, storage boxes, wall hangings and handmade products in loud, young colours.
“I wanted a local name and a friend suggested Mambalam. It reminds me of my favourite fruit mangoes and I have also lived in T. Nagar for a long time. I added Madras to it and Madras Mambalam was born!” she says. A student of Visual Communication, Adeela has always wanted to create her own products. She quit a full-time job with an ad agency to pursue her passion for quirky stuff that promise to spruce up a drab corner. She goes to small stores across the city in areas like Parrys to source chai glasses, aluminium kettles and glass-holders and then gives them a zingy twist with paint and print work.
“This process is called ‘upcycling’ of products. Besides painting, I am also looking at producing a lot of prints in the near future,” she adds. Coasters featuring The Beatles, wall hangings with a message of peace from Bob Marley and Jim Morrison, hand-woven palm pouches and baskets… her work is bold and refreshing. While potential customers can look through the catalogue on Facebook and place orders, Adeela soon plans to get a retail outlet after she expands her product base. The products are priced from Rs. 35 to Rs. 1,200. For details log on to www.facebook.com/MadrasMambalam
