Part photographer, part designer, Sharad Shrivastav is redefining the concept of luxury through his range of affordable leather accessories
How did your tryst with photography begin?
SS: Using the camera was what took me to photography. The sound of the click, the installation of film and how it rolled was next level excitement for me. I was 14 when my dad purchased a Kodak film camera. And soon I was the one taking all the family portraits. I would open up the camera, assemble, deconstruct and do all sorts of crazy stuff…I was hooked! In 2015 I bought my first professional camera with the necessary pieces of equipment to sharpen my skills and techniques.
How did Slinch come about?
SS: I started Slinch (the word is unit of measurement) in a small unit in New Delhi in 2018 with the vision to create something spectacular. Slinch represents a small group of people trying to make a change. Our goal is to use local artisans to create handcrafted functional products in affordable ranges for all the sectors. The focus is to create something for a lifetime. We aim to make a name for ourselves with quality, not quantity. Every product is handcrafted in our workshop in Delhi.
How do you see ‘modern luxury’ in India today?
SS: Modern luxury, in my opinion, is bending and widening for a world where we can create our own symbols of status rather than having them defined for us. Initially luxury meant something expensive and out of range for a large section of people or something that was not available everywhere. Now we have been able to create products that are as comfortable as luxury products but affordable for a large section. Our parameters have changed to something sustainable, more experiential and safe.
Tags: accessories, Leather bags, Product Design
