A history lesson via chairs

A living archive of the Indian seat 

Who would have thought a collecting journey started over 50 years ago by Mahendra Doshi—and expanded by Anand Gandhi and Chiki Doshi—would evolve into something more than an archive? At The House of Mahendra Doshi, A History of India Through Chairs traces the evolution of the humble seat in India, featuring pieces that capture the indigenous pre-colonial traditions to modernist movements. — Tanvi Parekh 

A History of India Through Chairs will be held at The House of Mahendra Doshi, Wadala, Mumbai, from February 28 to March 8 

Maximum (shopping) city 

A Kolkata legend has travelled west to open its doors in Mumbai. Bailou, the iconic brand dedicated to reviving Bengal’s handloom tradition, brings its joyfully bright range of saris, ready-to-wear, and home decor to a cosy new spot in Colaba. Don’t miss the ultra-soft jamdani weaves (available in stoles  and saris) and the finely carved ceramics by Studio Sasha, which make for perfect gifts. Further north in the city, Runaway Bicycle has opened its first store after over a decade of being in business. Founder Preeti Verma was always one to eschew traditional fashion systems to move at her own, sustainable pace. The store houses the brand’s signature roomy silhouettes—shift dresses, full skirts in soft cotton, silk collared shirts covered in polka dots, and more. — Butool Jamal 

Bailou: Tanna House, 11/A, Nathalal Parikh Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai - 400001 

Runaway Bicycle: Ground floor, Embassy Chambers, Road No 3, Khar, Ram Krishna Nagar, Khar West, Mumbai - 400052 

This booth at India Design 2026 deserves your time

If you are heading to India Design this weekend, make a beeline for the Jaipur Rugs booth. Artist Natasha Preenja (Princess Pea), winner of the Swali Craft Prize founded by Karishma Swali and the Chanakya Foundation in partnership with India Art Fair, has collaborated with the brand for ‘Days’, a striking capsule collection of hand-knotted carpets. What essentially started as workshops with artisans turned into pieces that ask an urgent question: Where are the days of leisure? The weavers behind the works will be at the booth as well, so you won’t just be viewing the craft but also meeting the hands that made it. —Sheya Kurian 

India Design 2026 is being held at the NSIC Grounds in New Delhi till February 22

2026 finds its colour in Moonlit Silk 

There is a new green in town, and it comes courtesy of Asian Paints. The brand has unveiled Moonlit Silk as its colour of the year 2026. It introduced the shade—a tad lighter than matcha—through a quiet mural by Polish artist Pener at the Lodhi Arts Festival, and a fabulous grazing table set at the Raw Mango store in Lodhi Colony Market. So, if you are in Delhi, a walk through the Lodhi Art District might lead you to this calming sweep of green. —Sheya Kurian

Walking towards Mary Jane 

We love a Frankenstein-esque hybrid shoe, whether it’s a sneakerina, a snoafer, or a clog sandal. The latest addition to this list? Designer Dhruv Kapoor’s Mary Jane shoe that has the decorative perforations and base of a pair of men’s brogues. “The idea was to build a shoe that sits between what is usually considered masculine and what is considered feminine,” says Kapoor about the pair that was created exclusively in collaboration with Johnnie Walker Blonde Non-Alcoholic Lemonade. In solid navy leather with a pair of criss-cross buckled straps, the special-edition shoe also comes with three tiny pins embedded in the heel (a rainbow, a flower, and a heart) that capture the two brands’ shared philosophies—“freedom of expression and individuality, celebrating fluidity, optimism and creativity in every form”. Kapoor said he spent three days wearing his pair non-stop to confirm the versatility and comfort of the new release. “You can dress it up or dress it down. I would mostly wear it with wide-leg tailored trousers or with jeans or even with ethnic wear,” advises the designer. —Butool Jamal 

Shop on Dhruvkapoor.com 

Leezu’s new launch might make you consider deleting your dating app 

The latest from Leeza Mangaldas’s “self-care” brand is cheeky in name and serious about pleasure. Zubaan—designed to mimic the fluttering motion of a real tongue—promises to deliver sensation exactly how, when, and where you want it. There’s no coy euphemism here—just a sleek sex toy that understands its assignment. Tired of swiping apps with endless ambiguity? This might just be the more reliable thrill. —Chloe Chou 

Available for ₹2,999 on leezus.com  

A skinimalist’s new best friend is here   

Raise your hands if the commitment of a 10-step skincare routine haunts you. Yeah, same. While someone like Hudson Williams clearly has the discipline for a multi-step routine (let’s be real: he’s better than us), the rest of us need an effective shortcut. Inaara, a new homegrown luxury skincare brand, offers just that with its lineup of four products—multi-benefit day and night creams and serums that pair hydrangea and Scandinavian lingonberry extracts with actives like stabilised Vitamin C and peptide complex—condensing the work into fewer, smarter steps. Goodbye, cluttered shelves! —Shyamolika Vaz 

 Available on inaaraskin.com 

Misho is coming for your closet 

If you thought Misho would stop at sculptural ear cuffs and metal bodices, think again. The celebrity-favourite jewellery label has launched its first ready-to-wear collection with a tightly edited black-and-white lineup. There’s an asymmetric cropped blazer that means business (very chic), silk taffeta trousers that fold over (fabulous), and an oversized shirt with exaggerated sleeves (plus detachable cufflinks, obviously). It’s structured yet not stiff—think less “basics drop”, more wardrobe architecture. And of course, the glossy, lacquered polymer bodices continue to steal the show. —Chloe Chou 

Available on mishodesigns.com  

A kids’ toy car that adults will hoard   

Play Staples is taking your average kids’ toy and making it an object you can comfortably display among your Princess Pea sculptures and coffee-table books. In their Indian Terrain Vehicle collection, inspired by cars of the country, you will find a Corbett safari jeep, a green Coorg cruiser and a Vagator Surf van that resembles a vintage Volkswagen hippie bus. Our personal favourite, though, is the kaali-peeli made with solid beech wood, complete with a detachable luggage rack on the roof and that iconic Padmini silhouette. —Ruhi Gilder 

Available on playstaples.com 

Vacation in a glass 

Sun on your skin, salt in the air, and spice on the palate. From the makers of Stranger & Sons gin, Third Eye Distillery, comes Lost and Found. The tropical spiced rum launched in Goa recently captures the warmth of long tropical days, music-filled nights, and a touch of sea breeze. For now, it is pouring exclusively in Goa, but drinkers in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana will not have to wait too long before it makes its way to their bars. —Sheya Kurian  

Available in Goa at ₹ 1,600 

An open house for the culinary curious  

If listening to candid conversations between chefs and a whole lot of curated food experiences is your idea of a Saturday night rave, The Chef’s Edit by The Bombay Canteen, a part of its second Open House, is the place to be. At this full-day event, you can expect Thai-Indian chef Chalee Kader, three Michelin-starred Himanshu Saini, Singapore-based chef Rishi Naleendra, Bali-based pastry pioneer Will Goldfarb, chef Prateek Sadhu of Naar, and Sapa bakery’s Dina Weber, along with chef Hussain Shahzad, offer a real-world perspective on building a career in food. —Tanvi Parekh 

The Chef’s Edit will be held on February 28. Entry is free and open to all. Register here 

Clothes to fall in love with 

Jodi’s founders Gauri Verma and Karuna Laungani and their longtime friend, hair and makeup artist Mitesh Rajani, have finally turned years of shared references, backstage banter, and “we should totally make this” conversations into a collection that feels as effortless as their friendship. 

Titled ‘Easy to Fall in Love’ (yes, like the Olivia Dean song you’ve had on loop), the capsule is all about easy separates with joy stitched into every seam. Think hand-block-printed stripes, punchy checks, playful paisleys, and sweet little French knots, all on silhouettes you can throw on without thinking too hard. For instance, there’s a denim koti vest that can be layered or worn by itself, a lungi-inspired wrap skirt, and a ruffled dress made for twirling through lunches and long evenings. It’s cheerful, unfussy, and crafted for compliments. Which is to say: dangerously easy to fall in love with. —Chloe Chou 

 Available on  thejodilife.com