Bagging A Good Idea

The talent for creating quality accessories seems to be ingrained in Avinash Bhalerao!

- Avinash Bhalerao

Art to product design – how did that happen?

AB: I pursued a BFA (Design/Illustration) from L. S. Raheja School of Art in Mumbai, and worked in advertising from 2008 to 2014. However, while I enjoyed sketching landscapes and figures, I was always inclined to designing accessories and I thought it was a good idea to bring them to life! There wasn’t a really major shift when I started Grain, my leather accessories brand. I just went with the flow.

So, how did Grain come about?

AB: When I was in advertising, people around me used to carry these fine quality leather bags from abroad. It was difficult to take my eyes off those bags. I would ask friends traveling abroad to get me a new handcrafted leather bag. So, starting Grain in 2014 was quite an organic move. Based in Mumbai, Grain is a combination of traditional artisan skills, best quality leathers and unique processes. It is led by contemporary design and quality products. Cut, worked and sewn by hand, each Grain product is crafted with passion and intended to stand the test of time, both strength wise and trend wise.

Do you have a specific design process?

AB: I don’t follow a particular process. What appeals to me is not based on seasons or trends. I design/create when I feel something strongly inside, and that helps me come up with a new collection.