This tiny store, tucked away in the side lanes of the bustling Indiranagar shopping area, is called Yellow Button. “Yellow is used because it is my favourite happy colour and button is something that holds everything together,” explains Madhavi Rongala, the brain behind the store.
“I have absolutely no experience in being a retailer. It is out of sheer passion that I started this store,” she adds.
The store is beautiful and bright and offers a wide range of hand-crafted items. Madhavi works with organisations across the country that are into the “revival of traditional arts. So you will find niche eclectic designs and we get only a select crowd that is particular about natural and hand-crafted products,” she says.
There is a beautiful range of handmade jewellery that starts at Rs. 350. Some of the designers whose works you will find here are Maya Bazaar, Pure Ghee Designs, jewellery by Eesha Zaveri, Naushad Ali, and House of Wandering Silks to name a few.
From Maya Bazaar there is a lovely range of brass jewellery. Then there are pretty hand-woven cane and jute baskets by Tribal Root from the North East. Besides these, you can pick up a range of hand made stationery or natural soaps by Do Bandar and some others.
A bright range of footwear with hand paintings catches your eye. These are created by 22.2 accessories. Madhavi also has a collection of earrings and accessories created by Sanchali, a social organisation that makes jewellery and accessories from left over silk saris. They start at Rs. 350.
Naushad Ali from Pondicherry occupies a large portion of the shelves with his cotton shirts, tunics, and long gowns for women in contemporary colours and designs.
The House of Wandering Silks from Delhi offer silk jackets and stoles. “This, again is a social organisation. They use traditional kanta embroidery on all their designs.”
Then there are bags in natural fabric by Pure Ghee designs. They come in bright colours and funky designs. Madhavi says that she has been working with craftsmen from across the country and collects items for her store during her travel.
A brand called Elan offers lights and tea lights created by glass and metal., which start at Rs. 250.
Besides these there are also designer photo frames, home décor items, stoles among others. One thing that Madhavi beams about is her collection of baskets from MRM Foundation, Chettinad. “They are into a reviving Chettinad weaves and create traditional baskets. These are really popular with our customers.”
Yellow Button is for those who look for something offbeat. It’s open seven days a week from 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and can be contacted on 25262108.
