Etcetera. This is what designer extraordinaire Pinakin Patel in 1984 chose to name his store - India's first lifestyle store. But nothing in it – be it the furniture, art, textiles or accessories – could be classified as ‘and the rest’, ‘the others’ or ‘extras. All the products in his store were about modernising Indian crafts. The innovative displays fetched him many interior design assignments, which then led to architecture. Patel was at the peak of his popularity, when he shifted his home and work to Alibag in 2000. Here, amid the calming and inspiring influence of nature, his creative energies were revived – he soon launched the well-known brand Pinakin.
Today, Pinakin is located in the mill district of Mumbai in an imposing double-heighted loft space. It carries a wide array of eclectic furniture that is truly ‘India Modern’! The store is best known for its distinctive interpretation of contemporary design based on the classic. Available are a wide range of furniture such as sofas, profile chairs, centre and side tables, occasional tables, dining tables and chairs, beds, side boards, bars and other miscellaneous products.
The latest furniture pieces available at the store include Angle Bar, a liquor-cum-curio cabinet in lacquered rosewood and leather; Apostrophe Sofa, a ‘gadda’-inspired sofa covered in Giorgio Armani brocade; Baroque Dining Table, carved silver legs and a smooth lacquered top; Jhoola Bed, inspired by the amorous Radha-Krishna; Kilim Sideboard, a rough walnut sideboard with antique Kerala ironmongery; Opium Sofa, a gold-plated jewel cushioned lounger; Monster Profile Chair, a hand-carved piece that revisits the Elizabethan era; and Jaipur Rose Sideboard, which shows off semi-precious details on the shutters.
What is the best part about a Pinakin piece you ask? Each item benefits from the best of the East and West. It is handcrafted by highly skilled artisans yet has an international materiality and finish!