Sufi verses translated into functional art

Designer Sara Shahid colaborates with foreign retail company for home accessories.

LAHORE: A Dubai based eclectic art retail business; The Orange Art Company introduced their aesthetic sensibilities in Pakistan by collaborating with Sublime by Sara Shahid on her latest venture of home décor. The ‘Quote Collection’ was showcased at her studio on Sunday.

The company designs functional art with the motive to ‘take art off the walls’ by coming up with unconventional ways of making it part of your homes. Their collection is an infusion of manuscripts of the mystical saints; Rumi, Kahlil Gibran and Omar Khayyam in to furniture and home accessories.



Functional art itself serves the purpose of refining our quotidian items with an infusion of fine art. The word ‘fine’ defines the intelligence and emotional quotient for art possessed by the people with high aesthetics.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahid told, “I have always found the work by The Orange Art Company very interesting and different. I do a lot of work which is based on inspiration and I believe my own design philosophy goes well with the label.”

Sublime has always been about minimalism and finds the perfect partner in the company itself. “I wanted to grow Sublime with something that I have always enjoyed doing. Home accessories and furnishings have always been something I wanted to try out. Collaborating with someone who’s already doing it makes it a lot more feasible for me,” said Shahid.

A brand moves forward with consistent innovation and Shahid wants to bring this lifestyle aspect to her label with a long-term collaboration. “I might bring imagery from the Quote collection to my own shawls, stoles or tunics in the future. It will blend into Sublime rather than being something distinctly different,” she said.

Coming April, the designer plans on allotting a specific part of her studio to the company. She said, “We will work together to create things that work well for both of us in terms of our design.”

Since they are starting out on a smaller scale, Shahid said, “you can expect to see lamps, furniture, cushions, rugs, candle stands, place mats  —  fun pieces.”



“This is something different for Lahore because I want Sublime to be a one stop shop when you want to buy someone a present. We have Sublime ready to wear and now we have this lifestyle collection so it gives people a good variety,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March  17^th,  2015.

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