Archive for the ‘Clothes’ Category
Diwali gift ideas
Diwali is around the corner and your gifts are a click away! Check out some fun ideas to get you inspired
Funny ‘Indian’ Mugs
These ‘Indian’ mugs come in a series of 3. You know you’re Indian, Always Indian, Still Indian
You know you are Indian if’….’10 kg rice bag’….’you dont use measuring cups when cooking’…’you love bollywood’…’Maybe because everything you eat is savored in tomato, garlic and onion :)’
Always Indian coffee mug
Amar Chitra Katha – The Complete Collection
Calling all Amar Chitra Katha fans! This gift set is one to be treasured. The entire collection in a beautifully packaged box set
Amar Chitra Katha – The complete collection
Ravan T-Shirt
A modern rendition of an Diwali iconic symbol
Ravana T Shirt
Sand Art Rangoli Kit
Back in stock – this popular kit is a lovely way of holding onto the Rangoli art form even after the Diwali season! Rangoli creations can be framed
Sand Art Rangoli kit
Take $5 off your order of $50 or more by using coupon DWL5 at checkout (valid till Oct 31st 2013).
My little pakora – Clothing for Kids
We’ve been a proud retailer of the mylittlepakora line for almost a year now and wanted to give our readers a deeper insight into the brand, its Indian design roots and organic goals.
Mylittlepakora was founded by Sonia Gupta when she was searching for Asian-Inspired clothes for her daughter. (Pakora is a delicious little deep fried snack and also a term of endearment for a little one)!
Sonia Gupta - Founder My Litte Pakora
We spoke with Sonia about her inspiration behind the line and the importance of being organic
1) What is your inspiration for the colors and designs behind the mylittepakora line?
India of course, and Rangoli patterns! We just love the richness and depth of color that India has per region and I would say that Jaipur and Rajastan were also the inspiration behind the current collection.
2) Which is your favorite item from this season’s collection?
Since spring is fast approaching and Summer is one of my favorite seasons in New England…I would say the Poplin Dresses we created in Blue and White. The colors and graphics really pop, we love the hint of the nehru collar, and the fit is fantastic on any little girl. The best part is the organic poplin is so breathable that this dress is a favorite in my house during those warm winter months into the cooler months. My oldest pakora Anika, extended this dress by layering in leggings, bootleg pants, and layering tees when the weather started getting cooler.
3) What does “organic” mean as it relates to clothing and why is it important?
As it related to cotton, organic means the cotton has been grown and farmed without the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides. Essentially, no chemicals in the cotton means- no chemicals in the ground, no chemicals streaming into water sources, no chemicals polluting the air. The all-around effect is a product that is created without harming the natural environment and our eco-system.
My little pakora clothes under production
4) What has been the most memorable event/thing/milestone while starting or running mylittlepakora
There have been quite a few, but most recently it has been my interactions with our customers. I have received beautiful photos of kids in clothing, emails related to how much people love the products, and most recently a customer told me how much he appreciates my manufacturing processes and what My Little Pakora stands for-this email really made my day! At the end of the day running and trying to grow a company on your own as a mom of 2 is not easy…but I can say that I am making a difference in the world…albeit a small difference-this is what keeps me going and doing what I love!
International travel with a toddler
We recently got back from a month long (almost) vacation to India with our two year old toddler in tow. Our travels included the expected – some jet lag, some shopping, good food, a lot of quality time with grandparents and family … generally a good but tiring trip.
I must admit, I was a little nervous before the trip. My two primary concerns were how our little girl would do on a long journey (and adjustment for time differences) and how her little body would handle a totally different environment with completely different strains of viruses etc that she was not really exposed to. So, I’m happy to say that she did really well on both the travel and the health front.
Now, a lot of parents have asked how we did and what lessons and advice we had to share, so I thought this might be a good topic to post. Lets first start with travel:
1) Stroller stroller -where art thou: If you do not have a direct flight to your destination, find out if your preferred airline is willing to gatecheck your stroller. This way you will have it at the layover airport and don’t have to carry your toddler across the airport or look for those elusive stroller rentals. Don’t assume that they always will gatecheck and double check that the stroller is tagged correctly otherwise it will end up going through immigration at your layover airport while you continue on to your final destination!
2) Dim the lights: If you want your toddler to sleep, dim all the lights you can, shut off your personal TV (and theirs of course) and wait for them to nod off. If you are lucky and your child tends to sleep in a carseat, she/he is most likely to sleep with the motion of the flight as well. You can switch on your TV or turn on your lights for a book after they are off to dreamland!
3) Its PJ time: Try to dress your toddler in comfortable PJ style clothing. The last thing you want is a child who cannot get comfortable in their seat because of their outfit. We dressed our little one in these super cute jumpers from mylittlepakora – they were really soft and comfy with no obtrusive buttons or clasps…so they kind of felt like PJ’s but looked adorable
Monkey Jumper
4) Carry entertainment: If your toddler is not asleep, she/he is going to get bored soon. Carry entertainment that is somewhat travel proof. Eg. a small portable DVD player, some lightweight story books, a small soft toy for comfort. We loved these twistable crayons from crayola -they were sturdy and the plastic shell protected them from breaking when dropped!
5) Stock up on milk: This point is for toddlers who have been transitioned to regular milk. The airline will allow you to carry some milk on board of course but you will need to restock it before you get to your final destination. Flight attendants may not be easily available to get you milk as your child needs…so try to stock up with a small bottle at the layover airport. They are usually available in the refrigerated section of the convenience stores. More on milk and travel in the next post
6) Airport lounges: For those of you who have a long layover do some research on paid airport lounges. They are comfortable, keep you plied with fruit, water and beverages and give your toddler the opportunity to run around in a relaxed setting.
Above all, try to enjoy traveling with your toddler. Use this time as an opportunity to teach your toddler about the destination, the concept of flying, planes and anything else you can think about. When we got back, our little girl pointed at a plane in the sky and asked me “Going to India?”…now thats precious!
Indian Culture & Art in USA, a RedPatang.com Blog 