Vervemagazine.in December 2014
Photograph by Shovan Gandhi

From being a writer and fashion stylist for fashion publications to curating a resortwear shop in Goa, Sacha Mendes’ journey has been interesting, to say the least. As she puts it, it started with a small shop of cushion covers by her mother, two racks of clothes by her friends (SavioJon and Anuj Sharma), and a few jars of orange-peel cookies made by a friendly neighbour, all in the comfort of her father’s ancestral home. “It was never meant to be a store, just a cabinet of curiosities to amuse us.” Today, Sacha’s Shop in Panjim, Goa is an eclectic collection of style goodies that a local can rely upon and a traveller makes it a point to always check out. You would be likely to find deconstructed trousers made into a dress, leather puppets, paper birds, and cross-stitch towels.

Sacha’s Shop appears as a pop-up in Mumbai at The Vintage Garden (Patkar Bungalow, Turner Road, Bandra), December 12-14 (11am-7pm) with resortwear for men and women, furniture, jewellery, table linen, art and design books, home décor, floral arrangements and a range of collectibles.

A quick chat with Sacha Mendes:

Designers in store (Goa) SavioJon, Tilla, Small Shop, 11:11, Maku, Design By Example, Paromita Banerjee, Aish Naushad Ali, Runaway Bicycle, Aavaran, Hot Pink Cool Blue, Ninoshka, Not Like You, Ritika Sachdeva, Pretty Stoned, Lisa Jackal, Labrador

Greatest inspiration “Mostly it’s people I meet, dear friends, people whose work I look up to, people I learn from, people I fall in love with, and family.”

The idea “As I always say, it wasn’t a conscious decision. It was an experiment of filling a space with pieces that I love.”

The greatest challenge that comes with a start-up “There is no great challenge. There is just a journey, an adventure.”

The best part about being an entrepreneur “You can express yourself through your work.”

Your dream “Is to live on a farm and self educate my children!”

A change post Sacha’s Shop “My relationship with time.”

Harshest criticism “I don’t think I’ve ever received any harsh criticism. My friends and family are great for getting me on track, and keeping it real, but they always do it with love.”

Favourite fashion trend “Oversized clothes.”

A personal style quotient you swear by “To each their own. I don’t believe in dictating style tips to anyone, and I expect the same.”

Looking forward to in 2015… “New adventures.”