Meet Nikita, the Chief Growth Slash Gypsy Officer of Vagabode – the wanderlust-filled soul behind Vagabode, a brand that’s part art, part travel, and 100% fabulous? We at TheGlitz still don’t know her surname – it’s not in her email nor in her signature but that didn’t bother us a whit bit… We were fascinated with her wayfaring ‘bohemian’ spirit and her brand Vagabode, that incidentally evokes a feeling of “where your wanderer’s heart meets a curated home, with a sprinkle of history and a dash of culture.” It’s a brand, Nikita insists, for those who don’t just collect souvenirs, but collect stories – stories from every corner of the globe that end up in your living room, your wardrobe, and maybe even your soul.

Incidentally, when Nikita is not weaving global inspiration into home furnishings and soon-to-launch apparel, she’s out collecting memories, history, and maybe a few random vintage postcards. Chief Growth Officer by title, world-traveling gypsy by heart – Vagabode, she says, is her love letter to the traveller in all of us, wrapped up in the coolest designs and most eclectic vibes.

Over to Nikita, The Artistic Adventurer behind Vagabode

 Vagabode is such an evocative name, merging ‘Vagabond’ and ‘abode.’ What inspired the creation of this travel-inspired brand, and how do you bring that wanderlust spirit into your collections?

As an ardent traveller with a love for all things nice and noteworthy, it was when I was doing up my own home that I realised a void in the Indian market. I would pick up insanely beautiful designs depicting art, culture, history and craftsmanship from my trips abroad. These were all glocal yet extremely high in quality. Back home, I could barely find such stuff or if at all, they were steeply-priced. The founder of Vagabode (who also happens to be my life partner) has always been on a lookout for all things artsy. Hailing from a filmmaking background, his creative instincts kicked in and we jumped right in with this concept of ours where travel meets global art and culture in everything one can bring home and call it their own. So, when we thought of Vagabode, we knew we were going to challenge the status quo and give the eccentric audience a travel-esque art brand coupled with purpose and personality. 
Essentially what we produce under the brand is heavily inspired from artists, philosophies, historical concepts, and more from around the world while we also try to bring original pieces of artwork from our travels.

Your brand focuses on conscious travel and art-inspired designs. Can you share how Vagabode embraces sustainability and cultural storytelling through its home furnishings and apparel?

We appreciate fine and organic fabrics such as 100% cotton and linen. With our temperatures soaring as high as 50 degrees (almost in all parts of the country), we knew that breathability is a big concern with fast-moving fashion and living. So, we decided to take a leap and source the highest quality of cotton grown in India. It’s a fabric that’s fuss-free, easy to maintain, soft, and breathable on not just your body but even for your furnishings, especially your bed linens. The market however is either flooded with export-discarded low-quality and cheap cotton or mixed materials sold in the name of cotton. Most of our collections are built from rich materials and we stay away from unnatural fabrics. We realised that even the best of brands in the country today are selling fabrics which aren’t big on a superior thread count. Or if there are ones who are offering great quality, the prints are boring. We’re particular with our digital prints and we’ve seen our consumers being in awe of the different concepts that we have to offer via the lens of art. Whether it is the Samurais and Geishas from the Edo period of Japan or the Aboriginal art of Australia, the question that puzzles us often is ‘Why should art only be hung on walls?’ Why can’t we go beyond leaves and flowers and have unique personality-driven prints in our own homes just like we do with our clothes and styling. It’s an expression at the end of the day.

With your upcoming apparel collection set to launch, what can we expect in terms of style, and how will it tie into Vagabode’s overarching theme of travel and art?

Our apparels too are not just a replica of what’s already available in the market. We tie it all back to our travel observations and learnings. Right from the cuts and techniques to the cultural significance, we focus on each country’s sensibilities around fashion and styling. For instance, we have introduced the authentic Hakama Pants, Tarikubi robes, and Kimonos under our Japanese Collection. There’s a slight spin to everything we get inspired from and that will reflect in our soon-to-be-launched apparels. We intend to take modern-day casual wearables up a notch with new cuts, prints, and an overall style. 

You mentioned that Vagabode is for those who seek a lesson in history and culture. How do your products reflect the different places and cultures that inspire them? Could you share an example of a piece that holds a special story?

Our Cambodian Collection has an assortment of imported table and home linens, showcasing one of the world’s greatest cultural wonders–the Angkor Wat Temple from the Khmer empire. We’ve tried to embed this monumental architectural gem in our table runners, cushions, and lumbars. It serves as a mini lesson in history and mythology because this UNESCO World Heritage Site is revered by Hindu and Buddhist communities alike. Originally built for Lord Vishnu as a Hindu temple in the 12th century, Angkor Wat Temple was later taken over by Buddhist monks and had many new artworks added.

Starting a new venture like Vagabode must have come with its challenges. What has been your biggest learning experience so far, and how has it shaped your journey as an entrepreneur?

We’re still very new to this game but I think it’s our genuine love and honesty for the arts and the intention to bring high-quality yet stylish products to the market that will help us grow. Our biggest challenge up until now has been to take our products to the right fit–customers who have similar tastes, who enjoy travelling, love having a personality in everything that they wear, use or decorate, are intrigued by the arts and who don’t mind being experimental. Our concept will resonate with people who embrace maximalism because we’re anything but minimalist.

As an art and travel enthusiast yourself, how do you envision Vagabode evolving in the future? Are there any dream destinations or artistic influences you can’t wait to incorporate into your next collection?
Absolutely! There’s just so much to like, get inspired and build from this breathtaking world. We want to be able to bring forth not just linens but many more product lines including decor, jewellery, footwear, accessories and the list goes on. We want to obviously also present Indian design philosophies and artists, so there’s a truck full of ideas that we’re brimming with. Just a matter of time! And may I add, lots of travel 🙂