A new store just arrived in the Dallas Design District, and this one has a unique twist: Shastra Home, a well-known name in the wholesale gift industry, offers fair trade-certified home and fashion goods.
Owner Anu Agarwal is no stranger to the Design District and knows that it’s the place to be.
“My customers are global in their perspective and are yearning for products that have the ‘human touch,’” says owner Anu Agarwal.
“I have been doing business in the Design District for the past 10 years, and I have seen the phenomenal growth that has taken place,” Agarwal says. “ If you are in a trade that involves creativity and trend, this is the only place to be.”
The boutique itself has been finished out using only sustainable and repurposed materials, and the selection will constantly be updated to reflect what’s current and on-trend.
“For those in the gift and furniture industry, the accessibility to the World Trade Center and Market Center are undeniable advantages,” Agarwal says. “With the new residential developers and international brands now setting up shop, there is no doubt that the Dallas Design District is on its way to becoming the a premium hub for unique and cutting-edge finds.”
Product offerings at Shasta Home include organic cotton home textiles, eco silk clothing and scarves, shawls, and pure silver jewelry, with price points from $30 to $250. All products are made by marginalized groups in India, either by artisan clusters or by physically and socially disadvantaged groups.
“My customer is the one who wants to get away from the assembly-line, cookie-cutter look of machine-made products,” Agarwal says. “They are global in their perspective and are yearning for products that have the ‘human touch.’”
A percentage of Shastra Home sales benefit the company’s sister organization, the Living Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the store’s fair trade artisans. Current training and capacity-building programs for these groups include funding schools for special needs children, vocational skills training for young women, elementary school recreation and playground construction.
Shastra Home is a lifestyle boutique rooted in sustainability and fair trade principles.
