Stay dry and kitschy

Are you bored with the usual black, floral or striped umbrellas? Thanks to Nida Mahmood, your rain accessory can be more than utilitarian.

 The Delhi-based designer’s new collection of six umbrellas has Bollywood lyrics and photos from retro movies.

 If one has 'Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si’ from 1958’s Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, another has the iconic scene featuring Raj kapoor and Nargis in the song ‘Pyaar Hua Ikrar Hua’ from 1955’s Shree 420.

 “You don’t see any interesting umbrellas.

 They are normally boring ones in solid colours and floral.

 I wanted to put a different spin and have lyrics and stills from rain songs,” says the NIFT graduate who launched her eponymous label in 2006 and eventually started New India Bioscope three years later, primarily to revive the artists behind Bollywood’s handpainted posters.

 As much as they are colourful and artsy, Mahmood also ensures the quality of the material.

 “It was a tedious process, creating the handpainted element which was then digitally printed on the water repellent fabric.

 I used the parachute material, sourced from China and Japan, which has a nice rubbery coating inside,” offers Mahmood.

 Priced from `300 onwards.

 Details: nidamahmood.

com