Glimpses of Abhishek Dutta’s furniture studio. Pictures by Pabitra Das

Shocking pink and turquoise suede upholstery, a hand sporting a bold Swarovski ring supporting the bolsters or clasping the curtains, a chair with legs resembling the human form and the back shaped like a corset ? glimpses of a flamboyant line of furniture created by fashion designer Abhishek Dutta.

The designer who debuted at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in April and is gearing up to showcase at the spring-summer edition in Delhi next month, has extended his creativity beyond clothes and is all set to launch a furniture studio at his Ballygunge home.

“I am always into doing things creative, be it my garment collections or decking up my fashion studio with unique furniture and accessories. Many of my customers who visited the studio would appreciate the furniture and request me to do it for them. So I thought of designing furniture professionally,” says Abhishek. But he is quick to add: “It’s not about serious furniture, it’s about doing fun and funky pieces, home accessories and artefacts.”

Funk being the keyword in the venture, the furniture pieces and accessories draw inspiration from the human form. So, hands, legs and the upper torso are common. “My USP is the unusual shapes and materials,” says the designer known for the trademark use of leather in his fashion collections.

From metal, leather, suede, denims and acrylic to wood in different finishes, the materials shaping the furniture are quite unique.

The hues are metallic ? from golden and silver to pink and blue. Swarovski crystals are used generously, sometimes as knobs and functional fittings and at other times as embellishments.

The studio, to be unveiled next month, is ready with the first range. On display are a few chairs in unusual shapes and a leather sofa with a pair of hands holding the bolsters from both sides. A glass-topped corner table with the leg resembling a woman waist downwards doubles as a dining table. A metallic gold cabinet is divided into bar counter, book shelf and TV holder.

The showstealer at the studio, however, is a lounge seating arrangement done up in loud pink and turquoise. A combination of wood and acrylic, with suede upholstery, shapes the divan that can open up to make a queen-size bed when necessary.

Bright blue drapes with leather patchwork hang from the four posters, to which is attached a LCD screen.

“This is furniture that would find place in a den or a lounge. It has a very young feel and needs an attitude to be flaunted,” explains Abhishek.

The furniture is priced reasonably: individual chairs range between Rs 3,500 and Rs 10,000; cabinets come for Rs 15,000-plus; the lounge seating area is tagged at Rs 35,000. Cushion covers, mostly foil-printed with leather ruffles, start at Rs 250.

Abhishek is yet to launch the first line, but the designer has already firmed up plans for the next line of furniture. “The next look with be ethnic, while retaining the signature funk. For this, I will fuse wood with copper.”

After launching his own studio, Abhishek is looking at retailing the pieces from lifestyle stores.

“I’ve already tied up with a lifestyle store in Singapore for a promotional show of the furniture. I’m trying to tie up with a store in Mumbai to retail the pieces,” he reveals.

Retail apart, Abhishek also plans to offer interior makeovers. “I can undertake designing assignments where I’ll give a complete makeover to a room within 15 days, in keeping with the client’s personality.”