Junkie to Funky

Tucked away in the basement of a house in Kishangarh,Vasant Kunj,is a new kitchy store that will arrest you the moment you step inside. Jugaad Factory,like its name,evokes a tinge of juvenile adrenaline surge. Owned by Delhi-based entrepreneur Rajiv Saran,the store is crazy enough to momentarily forget the Delhi winters,also because the first thing you spot is a wall painted with a beach scene – complete with several bikini-clad women drinking Mai Tais. Turn a corner,and you’ll see several Marylins,Auderys,The Beatles and Marleys staring at you from the posters placed in pop settings. A 1960’s Ocean’s Eleven poster here,an Australia poster there,Jugaad Factory is a mishmash of all things old and new.

Now meet JFK,this is Saran’s alternative name as he is,in his own words,“Jugaad Factory Karamchari”. He has been working on all things junk for the last three years now. “Jugaadu” by nature,as Saran calls himself,he has put up an array of products ranging from hand-painted shoes that sport various themes ranging from Archie’s comic strips and Harley Davidson bikes to various curtains,lamps and installations. Our favourite is the hand-painted gift box — one of which was custom-made for Saran’s friend,famously fond of his alcohol; proclaiming “Drink is your enemy. Love thy enemy,”.

Give him old jeans,if you value them sentimentally,and the JFK team will turn it into a curtain,a magazine holder or a cushion cover. With old bottles and galvanised iron pipes used to make lamps,old posters for inspiration for paintings and basic plumbing pliers for other pretty knick-knacks,this shop-cum-workshop is like a fun ride. Saran,who looks at using the space to bring together “like-minded people to discuss art and popular culture” is currently giving out free art classes for the neighbourhood children on Sundays. “I want this place to be creative all the time,” Saran says.

The merchandise in the store is priced between Rs 600- Rs 10,000