Flaunt your love for literature with a book clutch

It's easy to be lost in a good book. Now you can translate that love into a purse. Pune-based designer Bhairavi Malkani, 34, can create a limited edition, customised book clutch from your favourite books.

Bhairavi Malkani

Purists can rest easy because Malkani doesn't use the actual book or cover for the clutches. Instead, she uses acrylic to paint the book cover on the canvas or cloth clutch.

"I paint every cover to give it a more authentic and different look. I wanted to be as eco-friendly as possible so the clutches have re-purposed fabric and canvas. The centre of the clutch is jute and the metal frames are imported from China," she shares. Malkani started her label Creative Box in 2006 and sells up-cycled home décor products and accessories.

Sex and the City is the most-liked clutch; Malkani has sold 10 already

The first book clutch made after suggestions from girlfriends was Sex and the City. The clutch is so popular that she has sold ten of them since she started this line, three weeks ago.

"I love the book series and the movies and was so excited to learn about her clutches. I've had the clutch for ten days now and I carry it out quite often," says Rishita Shah, one of her earlier customers. "It is very noticeable but in a good way."

Amelie

She has also done clutches based on the covers of Amélie, Fault in Our Stars, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe and PS, I Love You.

It is not just book covers that she takes inspirations from; Malkani offers options - would you prefer a still from a movie adaptation over a cover, a much-loved quote or just a word? She's recently painting a clutch with the Italian word 'attraversiamo' meaning 'let's cross over' - it's from Eat, Pray, Love.

Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe

She is in the process of painting a clutch of Rohit Khilnani's new book, I Hate Bollywood, for his mother; she did a version for his sister-in-law, Sunita Mansukhani too.

"I love everything about Bollywood, and Rohit's book covers the best of it all, the fact that it's painted so beautifully on a clutch now makes this a precious accessory for me," says Mansukhani.

I Hate Bollywood

The clutches are big enough (7.5" x 5") to hold essentials. The painting is done in a day and delivery takes four days. Malkani will be taking orders for the next two months.

"I am still gauging the response. There's a very selective crowd that appreciates such work," she says.

The clutches have re-purposed fabric and canvas and are set in a metal frame

Cost Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000
Call 9833548881