Give Your Abode a Cosy, Comfortable yet Classy Look – Decorate Your Home with the Finest Home Furnishing Textile Products from Art India

• Q. How was Art India created and when did you get involved?
• The company’s foundation was laid in 1980 by Mr and Mrs Gunwant and Latesh Pancholi, who initially started the business by selling paintings and later transcended to rugs & home textiles. We used to re-create precious rugs and carpets and sell them at affordable prices. Nowadays this process is called sustainability. This is how Art India started.
  
  After 29 years I entered the business, focussing on adding new product lines, experimenting more and innovating in terms of design & development. I set up a separate team for market research and am planning to take Art India global.

• Q. What is your design and production process? How do you introduce new products?
• We are among the few companies who have invested in cloud computing and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. We deliver reliable products through operational excellence.
  
  It starts with sourcing of the best quality raw material. The raw material is then converted into rugs, or chunkier heavier fabrics which are used in making cushions, and the more delicate fabrics which are used for duvets.
  
  The design aesthetic is developed in such a way that there is originality and we love working with all our clients. We don’t do it alone, we have a team of talented designers with a passion for design, and we come up with something new every season.
  
  The process begins with the design teams deciding on the colours and mood predictions for the upcoming seasons and year. The design and development team then continuously work on new trends and designs, based on these themes, and our skilled craftsmen help us weave a dream and achieve it all.
  
  We have always believed in giving back, and we have started recycling our yarn waste and we are now developing our own “re-spool” yarn.

• Q. How do you ensure quality?
• We have a multi-level filtering process from the preparatory to the finishing stage. We have an in-house testing lab and a Quality Assurance (QA) Department that can assure the quality standard and provide a technical solution as per requirements. We are also a certified OEKO-TEX Company (certificate for prevention of harmful substances).

• Q. What makes Art India products better/different from those of other brands?
• Uniqueness and creativity are important to Art India. In terms of design and processes, Art India's product is unique. We have an in-house design team that follows all design ethics and ensures that the design is unique and does not duplicate anything else. Art India also works with over 100 different techniques.

• Q. Which products would you recommend to someone buying from Art India for the first time?
• Whatever product we design and manufacture are special in their own way. We have different ranges and designs to deliver to our B2B and B2C consumers, from trending colours and designs to lab-tested quality.

Where Can You Find Them?

• Q. Tell us about yourself and your background.
• I was raised in the same way that every child from a middle-class family is, with parents instilling in me the need of staying grounded. My parents believed in a self-taught method and encouraged me to do everything on my own. They also assisted me in learning by not assisting me in completing a task I was given. They believed that I would learn from my mistakes, and they were correct. I studied business and began working shortly after, and my on-the-job training has taught me what I know today.

• Q. What are your interests?
• I enjoy watching television and movies, and I helped my family during the lockdown. I do daily housework and spend a lot of time working and reading blogs on the internet. I enjoy reading a variety of brief articles.

• Q. Please give our readers some insights on how to use different textiles to accentuate a living space.
• Using rugs, cushions and throws depends on consumers and how creative they are in using textile products. There are conventional and non-conventional ways of using single textiles products. As we talk about runners they can be used at the sides of the bed or on stairs or as a yoga mat, same with the rug you can hang them like wall art or you can use them as a floor covering.
  
  Breaking the stereotype these days instead of using wallpaper people are using a rug as a wall covering to make their walls look more authentic and cosy.

• Q. What are some common mistakes people make when using rugs?
• Pulling yarn, cleaning without reading the instructions, and washing without following wash care instructions are all common mistakes consumers make when buying Art India products.

• How can one care for rugs and floor coverings?
• Handmade or handwoven rugs, in particular, require extra attention. Never fold it like origami when wrapping it; instead, roll it and keep it. Other important points to note are:
  
  
  • Do Vacuum Regularly: Vacuuming will pick up dirt, dust and food particles that you may not be able to see. It also fluffs up the individual strands on your carpet.
  • Do Treat Stains Immediately: Use damp white cotton towels to clean the carpet. First blot up the excess with a dry towel, then dampen (do not soak) with warm water and blot again with a dry towel. Do not rub the piece harshly.
  • Do Trust Professionals: Always trust professionals when it comes to cleaning the carpet and any home textile product by Art India.
  • Don't Drag the Furniture: If you drag heavy items across the carpet you run the risk of tearing carpet fibres and leaving permanent drag marks.