For Everything Else

There are some things money can’t buy at Freedom Tree, and unfortunately, those are the most desirous. Take the gaily striped wooden rolling pins, for instance, or a dog-eared copy of Candy is Dandy, Ogden Nash’s collection of adorably cute poems. We received the same “not for sale” response for inquiries related to a five tier brushed steel dabba, antique iron, cheery yellow flip flops and uber-cool wooden alphabets. Dry Spell?

Maybe. Veer your mind off Freedom Tree’s forbidden fruits, and you’ll notice that it also branches out into textiles, lighting, furniture and ceramics, all of which are integrated into the attractively detailed displays at this new Lower Parel store, and only a few of which are worth your lust.

Plate for Life

We loved the thick, curvy ceramic dishes that come with cute names – Hug Mug, Jolly Jar, Butter Up Dish, Morning Teapot, Swish Pie Dish, Pop Plates –in electric colours like toxic yellow, cherry red and bright purple (don’t bother with the pedestrian cobalt and printed versions). Founder and colour consultant Latika Khosla (she gave Mumbai Takete Maluma more than a decade ago) uses hues effectively in other products too, like the Mediterranean blue antique cabinet with rainbow drawers (Rs 22,000), overpriced but dreamily pretty.  The geometric print bed linen, striped rugs, lamps and citrus coloured storage units seem dull and mass produced, so skip those altogether.

Late Bloomers

Every collection at Freedom Tree is named after an Indian flower, we were told by COO Samantha Murton, who also promises that new products would bloom depending on shopper feedback. Based on our soulful request, you might find a crop of the abovementioned wooden alphabets on shelves soon – this time for sale.  We wonder how much it will cost you to spell Y-O-U- A-R-E W-E-L-C-O-M-E?

Getting there: Freedom Tree, building no 28, 1st floor, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Lower Parel, ceramic dishes start at  Rs 100.