Ikka Dukka’s collections seem as exotic as the lineage of the home furnishings e-store’s founders. The brand came to life after Lucknow-based Nilisha Kohli met Ireland born-and-bred Enda Noone in Dublin and decided to collaborate on a venture. With inputs from Kohli’s NIFT-educated sister, another co-founder — Delhi-based Ankita Dabas — on board, and Rs 60 lakh from savings, personal loans and family, Ikka Dukka took off in May 2014 as a one-stop e-store for unique home furnishings, accessories and apparel. “Online stores in India are usually aggregators offering discounts and targeting the mass market. Then there are luxury sites with high-priced items for the super rich. We fit in the niche in between,” says Noone.
Noone says there are enough designers and manufacturers in India to satiate the market, but most such items are almost exclusively meant for export. “We spent last year working on sourcing and developing reasonably-priced products from both India and the UK,” he adds. These range from lights, cushions and ceramic and glass pieces starting from Rs 500 to hand-knotted rugs costing Rs 25,000. Just like its name, which Noone says translates to rare or unique, the company is hoping its future sales will stand out as well.
