Living
ADD-ONS FOR AN AUTOMOBILE LIFE
Bringing with it the groundbreaking concept of Auto lifestyle, Autotree is truly an experience to cherish for every auto-enthusiast.
Words by Varun Kannan Images by Jinson Abraham
Quality is what everyone strives for; quality in all of our endeavors, quality in our many transactions, quality in our relationships, quality in life itself. More often than not, the boundary between mediocrity and true greatness is marked by a thick line of quality, especially so in the world of consumerism. Iconic brands have all sprung from the bedrock of superior quality, be it product or service.
Well, then the question would be how does one define quality. The answer in all likelihood would be another question: in what context? Let us say, to an automobile owner, what would quality mean?
Would it solely be the best of premium products and accessories to choose from, a trusted bunch of technicians or a great service experience? If you are a seasoned auto-enthusiast, your answer would undoubtedly be- the union of the three; the best of products, shrewd technical competency and exemplary service. A place that can deliver all the three would be your ideal place.
Thinking- Customer
Exactly what Noufal Ahammed, the founder and CEO of Autotree tells me during our conversation. A keen autoenthusiast, Noufal says he was ever on a look out for a place that could give you the confluence of the three. Fortunately for us, he never found one, which is exactly why he set out to build one- Autotree. “ Autotree came from my perspective as a customer. It came as a solution to the problems that I had to face and the services that I sought as a truly passionate automobile person.” Autotree is all that he claims it is and more, and truly fits its branding as India’s first auto lifestyle store.
First things first, what is Auto lifestyle? The best way to know would be to find out for yourself and pay a visit to Autotree, like I did. The concept of a conventional accessory store in your minds is taken for a toss as one visits Autotree. The sight of the centre piece, a pack of menacing looking machines by Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, steals the thunder. You turn right and you spot that 24 carat gold plated alloy which you have only read about. Inviting your attention is merchandise from the biggest names in the automobile industry, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche. And what’s more, the chaos and haphazardness of your regular accessory store is conspicuous in its absence. Autotree feels more like a museum of modern engineering than an accessory store and you are also treated like connoisseurs, not customers.
Innovation, Not Tradition
“ We have branded merchandise from the biggest brands in auto that includes watches, shades, pen drives and so on; bikes from brands like Porsche and Mercedes Benz; and also scaled models of the mean machines that rule the auto world. The three segments have never been part of a conventional accessory store and we are venturing out into unchartered territory here. ” Noufal tells me. So how have the customers warmed up to the all-new idea of an Auto Lifestyle store? “ The response has been overwhelming” Noufal assures me, “ Consumers are generally unaware of the vast options that are available in the market. So, they are absolutely delighted to find new things and are also thankful to us for enlightening them.”
If you are liking the picture of an auto lifestyle that is unveiling, wait till you here that Autotree also has a fully equipped 13- base garage which can handle all type of car jobs right from wheel alignment to performance enhancement. The biggest perk here being, the messiness of a regular garage is given a miss. You could just cosy up in the customer lounge with a cup of coffee, sit back and watch closely the LED screen which would beam live footage of your car being worked on. The garage is well hidden behind the store and in no way tampers with the aesthetics of it. That’s another conventional picture, of a messy, inhospitable garage tossed out of the window. “Autotree does not respond any tradition” Noufal chimes in. Pretty evident, I think.
Big-Small things
The attention paid to the nuances of the customer experience amazed me. A custom-built software that allows you to see, first -hand how an alloy would look on your car; an audio experience room that you are ushered into to judge the quality of the speakers, before you actually make the purchase. ” Unlike the traditional practice of hoodwinking customers, we want to make it absolutely clear to them what they are going for before they opt for it.” To most of us who are used to being ‘sharked’ into purchases by sales executives, the Autotree experience comes in a most welcome one and even feels like too good- to be- true.
Like the proverbial icing on the cake, Autotree also allows you to pay for most of its products in instalments and is partnered by Bajaj Finserv for hassle free loans. When was the last time you heard about loans for car accessories? Never before. By the time I was told that Autotree also insures all of its products with ICICI Lombard and also give road assistance to its customers all over India, I was ready to believe that Autotree gives stuff for free. No, really. Autotree bears testimony to the fact that when you seek quality in all that you do, not many things can go wrong. Noufal is busy with his plans of expansions for Autotree. Stores in Kottayam and Calicut should open by the end of the year, he tells me. and few more would follow. On the longer haul, around 30-35 showrooms across south India is what he and his partners Thaha Shahir, Ahmed Riyaz and C M Faiz, are looking at. And we don’t see why not!
Art
Navratri 2024: Celebrating the Nine Colours and Their Significance
Navratri, the festival that spans nine nights, is one of the most auspicious and widely celebrated festivals in India. Dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms, each day of Navratri holds special significance, marked by a distinct color that carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning. As we prepare for Navratri 2024, let’s explore the nine colors associated with each day, their significance, and how they inspire devotion, positivity, and harmony.
Day 1: Yellow
On Thursday, embrace the uplifting energy of yellow as you celebrate Navratri with optimism and joy. This warm and cheerful color symbolizes happiness and radiates positivity, keeping you in high spirits throughout the day.
Day 2: Green
On Friday, wear green, a color that represents nature, growth, and harmony. It evokes a sense of peace and serenity, while also symbolizing new beginnings. Let the vibrant energy of green invite tranquility and the blessings of the Goddess into your life.
Day 3: Grey
Saturday calls for the subtle sophistication of grey. This balanced color keeps you grounded and calm, symbolizing composure and understated elegance. It’s perfect for those who want to participate in Navratri with grace while making a refined style statement.
Day 4: Orange
On Sunday, adorn yourself in the vibrant hue of orange. This color embodies warmth, exuberance, and positivity. Wearing orange during Navratri invokes an upbeat energy, bringing vitality and a lively spirit to your celebrations.
Day 5: White
Start your Monday with the purity and serenity of white. Associated with innocence and spiritual clarity, this color invites inner peace and helps you connect with the divine blessings of the Goddess, offering a sense of security and calm.
Day 6: Red
On Tuesday, red takes center stage, symbolizing passion, love, and strength. As one of the most auspicious colors, red is often offered to the Goddess in the form of a Chunri. Wearing red fills you with energy, vigor, and the vibrant spirit of Navratri.
Day 7: Royal Blue
Wednesday’s color is royal blue, representing elegance, richness, and tranquility. This deep, vivid shade of blue exudes confidence and sophistication, making it an ideal choice for those who want to celebrate Navratri with style and grace.
Day 8: Pink
On Thursday, don the charming hue of pink, a symbol of universal love, affection, and harmony. Pink is a color that adds a soft touch of warmth and approachability, making it perfect for creating a loving and joyful atmosphere during the festivities.
Day 9: Purple
On the final day of Navratri, purple takes the spotlight. Associated with luxury, nobility, and grandeur, purple invites opulence into your life. Wearing this regal color while worshipping Navdurga bestows blessings of prosperity and richness, making it the perfect way to end your Navratri celebrations.
Luxury
Cartier’s New High Jewellery Collection is a Love For The Wild
In 2021, the American Museum of Natural History in New York presented Beautiful Creatures, an exhibition showcasing some of the most eccentric jewellery designs of the past century. One standout piece was the iconic crocodile necklace of Mexican actress María Félix, a loyal Cartier patron. Félix, renowned for her bold sense of style, famously strolled into Cartier’s Paris store in 1975 with her pet crocodile, requesting a necklace in its likeness. Cartier delivered, crafting two intertwined crocodiles encrusted with over a thousand emeralds and yellow diamonds. For Félix, crocodiles symbolized freedom, an embodiment of the spirit she associated with Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema.
Fast forward to today, and Félix’s wildest dreams seem to have come to life at Cartier’s latest high jewellery collection, Nature Sauvage, previewed at the historic Kursalon Hübner gallery in Vienna. Among the star pieces is the Koaga necklace, a masterful creation where a zebra clasps an emerald-cut diamond and a 6.25-carat pear-shaped rubellite in its mouth. The zebra’s form is exquisitely rendered in alternating onyx stripes and pavé diamonds, making the creature feel almost lifelike.
The relationship between animals and jewellery has deep mythological roots, often glorified through rituals and symbolism. In ancient Egypt, scarab beetles were worn as earrings to signify respect for life’s cyclical nature. Meanwhile, in Hellenistic Greece, gods and goddesses took on the forms of winged creatures in adornment. So, what is it about animal-themed jewellery that continues to captivate us? According to Amanda Triossi, a jewellery historian based in Rome, the allure lies in our primal instincts: “Wearing wild animals like panthers or tigers gives one the sense of having conquered them. It’s empowering, as if you inherit the animal’s strength and attributes.”
Cartier captures this essence beautifully in its Amphista necklace. Featuring two intertwined snakes with diamond scales set with emeralds, their heads adorned with kite-shaped diamonds, the necklace echoes ancient Chinese philosophy’s yin-yang balance. The pièce de résistance? Nine octagonal Colombian emeralds, weighing a total of 14.72 carats.
Triossi also notes that many historical heroes are often depicted draped in the skins of animals they’ve vanquished, a symbol of triumph. Today, jewellery transforms that symbol into something precious and eternal—animal skins reimagined in imperishable materials.
Later that evening, at a celebration held at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest in Austria, the enchantment of Cartier’s collection was heightened. The museum’s octagonal domes featured paintings of animals dancing with angels, setting the stage for a magical night. Guests were greeted by masterpieces such as Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait and Caravaggio’s Madonna of the Rosary, alongside Cartier page boys in their signature red hats. The evening’s soundtrack, a seamless blend of Bach and Kygo, was curated by DJ Gillian Sagansky, lending a modern twist to the classical ambiance.
The following day brought another cultural adventure—a visit to Otto Wagner’s Villa, a stunning summer palace designed by the famed architect. The paintings adorning the villa’s walls depicted animals in various forms—some caught in purgatory, others wandering the biblical bardo, with alligators restlessly emerging from swampy landscapes.
Luxury
Indian Craftsmanship Meets Italian Savoir Faire : Rahul Mishra x Tod’s
Quiet luxury was expected to dominate for a while, with many predicting that the return of bold, extravagant fashion would take its time. However, maximalism seems to be making a swift comeback, especially in the realm of designer collaborations. Hot on the heels of the vibrant, print-heavy H&M x Anamika Khanna collection, another limited-edition line has arrived, celebrating opulent luxury: Rahul Mishra x Tod’s.
As part of Tod’s T-Factory project, which features exclusive collaborations with creative innovators, this marks Indian couturier Rahul Mishra’s debut in the international accessories space.
Mishra is a true ambassador of Indian design. Along with his wife Divya Mishra, he leads his eponymous label, which has brought the essence of India to the global stage in remarkable ways. A regular at Paris Fashion Week and the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, his creations have adorned celebrities like Zendaya and Mark Zuckerberg, and have graced magazine covers in South Korea, China, and Europe. With such a path-defining legacy, it’s no surprise that Mishra and his visionary label were Tod’s natural choice for their first-ever Indian collaboration.
Mishra describes this collaboration as a beautiful fusion of “Italian craftsmanship serving as the canvas for Indian vision.” Tod’s iconic Gommino loafers and mules, along with the Di Bag and T Timeless shoulder bag, have been reimagined with intricate resham embroidery, crystals, and sequins—all meticulously hand-embroidered at Mishra’s atelier in Noida. “It was a technically challenging process that took time to perfect. I can confidently say these are some of the finest bags and shoes you’ll ever witness, in terms of craftsmanship and longevity. Such pieces are forever,” Mishra proudly shares.
Crafted entirely between India and Italy, the limited-edition pieces from this collection are a true love letter to the artisanal heritage of both nations. “There’s a beauty in the teamwork here,” Mishra explains. “We received raw materials from Italy and worked on integrating our embroideries seamlessly into their leather. The pieces were then sent back to Tod’s, where they transformed them into stunning, three-dimensional products. In that sense, it’s been a genuine collaboration between Italy and India.”
Mishra firmly believes that the future of global design will be shaped by a global Indian aesthetic. “Just as French, Italian, British, and Japanese designs are now seen as universal,” he explains. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing that narrative. “When you push the boundaries of ‘handmade in India’ to be respected at the pinnacle of luxury, everything else will naturally follow,” he emphasizes.
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