Beautiful and bizarre things to buy: From Modern History’s holi kit to a Tokri Pouf
In this weekly compendium of objects of desire, also a Vanities column by Mint's editor R. Sukumar

The holi kit
Modern History
The Holi Kit is Modern History’s first piece, and a tribute to the festival of colours. But, we dare say, the kit looks good even as a stand-alone collectible. A limited edition of 50 pieces, it includes six mini-bottles of colour, one organic soap, 100 water balloons, one T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses, a pocket book and a Modern History tote bag.
Design store Modern History, co-founded by Ankur Rander, the founder of Bombay Design Centre, and Parixit Bhattacharya, managing partner-creative at TBWAIndia, was launched earlier this month. They will launch two more such products before the end of the year, the co-founders tell us.
Kit purchases are limited to three per person. Modernhistory.in; Rs3,500
Hot Seat: Tokri Pouf
Inspired by a basket full of marigolds, this pouf will be a constant source of festive cheer. It’s deceptively solid, with a steel frame base, and polyester-jute fabric upholstery with woollen threadwork.
Designclinicindia.com; Rs8,000+shipping
Au naturel: Ira Centre Table
This single-wood piece makes for a statement centrepiece. Cane Boutique, 273, Amarjyoti Layout, Intermediate Ring Road, Domlur, Bengaluru or online on Caneboutique.com;
Rs85,000
Dress Circle: Leather Glitter Sneaker
Step into space with these basic-turned-blingy white sneakers—presently out of stock because London seems to be lusting after them. Ask a friend to keep an eye out and ship these to you soon.
All And Other Stories stores in the UK, or Stories.com, £69
Compiled by Vangmayi Parakala
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By Invitation: Vanities
An ode to things you don’t need but must have
This week: Tumi Alpha Bravo Kingsville Deluxe Brief Pack (Olive)
The name is a mouthful, but this is a hardy backpack that has survived horrendous assaults by anonymous fellow travellers (in the luggage racks of crowded low-cost airline flights), inclement weather (light showers, and once, some fairly heavy sleet), overstuffing, and, of course, the covetous eyes of countless people who have seen it in my office—its assigned place is a couch and I usually discourage visitors from sharing space with it.
It is an office backpack that has an outdoorsy feel to it but it’s definitely not one I’d go birding with. I like the fact that its inside lining is bright orange, Mint’s brand colour, and also one I am partial to. I used to have a lot of orange shirts before I decided I was better off wearing a uniform to work (on most days)—blue jeans and white shirts in summer; blue jeans and a black full-sleeved T-shirt in winter.
I bought the backpack in Singapore on a whim, five years ago. Singapore is the worst place in the world to shop (for pretty much anything), but I found it on sale for a very good price. It was still expensive, but I’ve always been partial to bags. And this one has probably paid for itself many times over in terms of opportunity cost—it’s killed my desire for bags and also made me give away all my old ones.
It has a large compartment for books, papers, and lots of smaller compartments, including a waterproof side compartment for a small umbrella (I’ve actually used it at times) or a water bottle. The best feature? It has an easy access laptop compartment. Because nothing is as irritating as the person in the airport security queue struggling to get a computer out of a bag.
That zips it for me.
By R. Sukumar, editor, Mint
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FIRST PUBLISHED10.03.2017 | 06:36 PM IST
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