10 brands I'm rooting for this year
And what makes them so good! ✨
Happy New Year! ✨
I don't know how excited you are about 2024, but I am. And I'm looking forward to exploring and talking to more brands. I've just gotten my hands on Deconstruct's haircare range after loving their conditioner (so affordable and fantastic for curly heads), and I'm wondering if I should do a piece on curly hair products.
But for now, I'll tell you about the brands I'm rooting for in 2024.
The Paper Dolphin
I discovered The Paper Dolphin because my cousin gifted me their stationery and found them quirky! Is anyone doing stationery this interesting? I don’t think so. They offer diverse journals, recipe books, readers' or binge journals, and I love that they've got something for everyone. Plus, they recycle and upcycle paper and waste to craft their products. They also have an alternative section where they often sell their products that don't necessarily meet their quality cut at slightly lower prices.
House of Makeup
Mumbai-based House of Makeup is doing beautiful lipsticks, balms, and kajal formulations. I stumbled upon this vegan brand only because of Jovitha George, a lifestyle blogger, and placed an order for their tinted lip balm and kohl. The tinted balm is loaded with all the usual suspects — hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, shea butter, and avocado. It sits great on the lips, and if you don't want to use lipsticks or glosses on some days, this one does the job. Get it; you shall not regret it! Their kajal is equally amazing — I love it as much as the Sugar kajal, which is easily among the best Indian kajals.
I only wish they had better and less plastic(y) packaging.
Unniyarcha Jewellery
There's silver jewellery, and then there's silver jewellery by Unniyarcha! If you're into elegant and minimalistic jewellery, their bracelets and anklets might tickle your fancy. Unniyarcha believes in sourcing its raw materials ethically and works with Indian artisans to produce their jewellery. While they handcraft their silver jewellery, their lifetime warranty feature makes them a win for their consumers. You've got to follow them on Instagram to gawk at their stuff.
Tiggle
The search for good hot chocolate never ends for me! At least, it wasn't till I discovered Tiggle. Their hazelnut hot chocolate is legit the best, and if you can't do hot chocolate without marshmallows, grab their vegan marshmallows, too. To think about it, Tiggle started its journey by selling hot chocolate right outside a Delhi metro station after their work hours! I’m so glad it’s available across India right now. Also, Tiggle sources its cacao from farms in Tamil Nadu. I do hope they introduce cake and pancake batters in 2024.
OZiSS
If you love basics, classic cuts, and comfortable cottons — don't look beyond OZiSS. This sustainable label calls itself a climate-positive label as it produces sustainable and repurposed clothing in fabric that doesn’t harm the earth and you.
Giving it more thought, we slowly started to realise that true 'sustainability' in a larger sense of the word, will not really be achieved if the actual solutions are not approachable to a larger section of our population. — OZiSS
I've been living in their shirts ever since I got them. The fabric is incredibly good against your skin, and it's not every day you find timeless pieces at these prices.
Intiki
Can we ever get enough of ceramics or home decor? Nope! Never.
Intiki's Instagram page reminds me of the elaborate Diwali dinners my grandma would host for her loved ones — lots of homemade sweets; ceramics brought out only once a year, and traditional lights that would be oiled and used yearly. The nostalgia is strong with this one — but the designs are even more beautiful. If you have too many coffee mugs, check out their tapas platters or bowls. While they have gorgeous coasters, I'm waiting for their Zorro coasters, which remind me of cookies and cream. And oh, their products are handmade.
Lukka Chuppi
Lukka Chuppi draws inspiration from origami and uses up-cycled material to craft gorgeous, simple, timeless bags. It's a zero-waste label that does box clutches, round clutches, and clutches with changeable sleeves (whaaaat!). Lukka Chuppi doesn't use plastic in its production; it uses 100% cotton fabric to craft bags that stand the test of time. The label also offers a wholesale section to place bulk orders for office, storage and home essentials. In 2024, I hope this stuff will also be available for individual purchases.
Beauty of Joseon
Alright, here's a K-beauty brand!
Beauty of Joseon has an incredible sunscreen, and I can't stop using tubes of it. I love the texture, how it feels on my skin, and the finish. If you get it, you can't stop using it. And then, there's the Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser that legit helps you take the day off. It makes you believe you're done with a long day at work, and that's what I love about it. I've yet to use their sunscreen stick and moisturisers — that's what I'll do this year.
You can shop for Beauty of Joseon from Maccaron or Beauty of Barn.
Mnmlst Watches
What Mnmlst Watches is doing is so interesting! As the name suggests, making minimalist watches is their thing. Some of their collections remind me of the classic, simple ones from the 80s or 90s — and if anyone is bringing that look back, it's got to be these folks. While I'm not a huge fan of womenswear because they are starkly similar to Daniel Wellington watches, their men's collection is solid. I know this one is sold out, but how can you not love it? I know I'll get this one when it's back in stock.
Hoovu Fresh
Hoovu is a fresh flower brand I discovered on Shark Tank India. But they've built such a fabulous Instagram community with Hoovu Finds that I can't stop admiring their genius social game. It's not every day you find a brand making a community just for the love of what they do without trying to sell you something!
Hoovu’s flowers are now available across Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai; you can also shop for their puja material from their website. Otherwise, continue checking out their flower-loving content on Hoovu Finds.
Psst..I hope Hoovu launches some hard-pressed floral jewellery or accessories this year.
So, those were my 10 picks. What’s your favourite? Comment right there! 👇
I’ll be back with another story soon. 👋
Loved hoovu fresh and stationary brand
Loved the Stationary brand!