Souk: Community Recommends
Editor's note: Our sister site, Souk, works hard to bring you recommendations for cool, fun, AND useful products every day. Today is no different. In this list, journalist Arunima Joshua brings us a list of eight must-buy items that she's tried, tested, and curated herself, just for you.
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Welcome to another edition of Community Recommends, a new Souk series where we ask fellow enthusiasts to share the things they love. Books, objects, places, ideas. The goal is simple: instead of algorithms or bestseller lists, we turn to our community for discovery.
For this second edition, Arunima Joshua—journalist and former editor at Advisory (2023-2024)—shares 8 things she’s purchased recently that she would highly recommend. Arunima writes about music, F&B, lifestyle and culture. Her love language is gifting and by her own admission, she shops more than her journalism income can sustain.
Over to Arunima:
I have a shopping problem. It’s not a regular shopping problem, it’s a specific shopping-for-gifts-for-people problem. I plan gifts months in advance and when scrolling through the ‘gram, bookmark ads constantly with ‘A-ha’ moments for when something is exactly someone’s alley – aesthetically and practically. Instagram has slowly become an overly commercialised space for unsolicited advertising thrown at you, instead of catching up with what friends are up to or what’s happening in the world. It’s exhausting and honestly getting a bit much. Luckily for you, I come to the rescue, in the humble offering of my tried-and-tested online homegrown retail and IG brands that are worth the hype, artisanal and mostly make for some very good gifting – either for loved ones, or to simply spoil yourself.
Below are 8 brands that I have purchased items from, that I’d highly recommend for gifting, broader discovery and being great conversation starters.
My father enjoys his beer every so often on a balmy Sunday evening, like every retired Army uncle. The bottle openers we had at home, unfortunately, were older than my parent’s marriage. For something more regal and stately to open a pint, this polki (here, white topaz) studded brass bottle opener was a perfect gift. It also makes for a great conversation starter when hosting, when placed at the bar.
Jaipur is home to some of the most exquisite handcrafted artisanal work and jewellery, and this little piece of modern luxury hailing from the city is worth the price tag. I’d recommend wiping the opener with tissue and storing it in plastic, after use, to prevent tarnishing. In the past, Souk has recommended Elephant napkin rings from the same brand. As you can tell, we’re all fans of their distinct craftsmanship.
02 Pachisi on Raw Silk Cloth
My cousins and I have grown up playing every board game ever. From Chinese Checkers to Carrom and Scrabble, we’d been around the (play) block. When we had a reunion last summer and wanted to do things a little differently, this cloth-based ancient Indian game— very similar to Ludo—was a natural investment. Bhansali vibes recreated at your very home, it makes for lovely decor splayed out in a corner of your living room as well. Wooden dice and tokens add just that quaint touch to make it a wager for games night!
03 Pink Glass Rose
My mother and I are true aesthetes—preferring form over function. Flowers need to be at the dining table and preferably, the coffee table as well, at all times. Alas, fresh flowers wilt and perish, despite every hack known to those with a green thumb. When we found the handblown glass roses at Rustic Horse, we were overjoyed. This recent purchase makes for a great alternative to real flowers and can be displayed individually in a tall vase or in the midst of several white fresh ones for a crystalline pop of blush. If you can afford it—buy a bunch for a luxe floral display that’ll never die. While sturdy in borosilicate glass, they still are breakable though, so we hope they’re not around butter fingers or children for a good ROI.
We suggest scanning the brand’s entire handblown glass flower range for the garden pick of your choice!
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For the full, unadulterated, un-algorithmic list of must-buys, head over to our sister site, Souk!
souk picks