Celebrity fitness expert and author Deanne Panday believes that wellness is beyond what’s on your plate and how you look. “What people don’t realise is having the perfect figure or just eating right is not enough to embrace wellness as a lifestyle, it is the little things that matter. It can be something as basic as switching to a bamboo toothbrush or being mindful of where your clothes come from.”
With a background in interior and architecture as well, Deanne aimed to create a collection that resonated with her thought of creating simple designs that complemented your inner and outer wellness. It was in 2020 that Deanne, and Gurugram-based modern and contemporary furniture brand, Mohh, decided to work together on the wellbeing collection, given their similar design sensibilities as well as a passion for making sustainable choices and opting for greener products. “What started with personalised bookends for the launch of my book, Balance, snowballed into multiple conversations about how to be sustainable in the furniture and home décor industry. Multiple brainstorming sessions later – the Wellbeing Collection was ideated – a unique collaboration between India’s foremost health coach and a furniture design powerhouse,” she said.
Integrating design, sustainability and wellness
The collection is an amalgamation of simplicity and class with elements of sustainability that offers a mix and match of smaller, modern décor pieces with some bigger furniture pieces – all made with some fresh sustainable raw materials while giving it a contemporary look. A mix of repurposing scrap and opting for rarely-used-before eco-friendly raw materials, this collection aims to tell a story of how aesthetically pleasing designs are possible for homes using some sustainable alternatives.
“Sustainability isn't just about the health and well-being of the planet. It's about the health and well-being of people. From the air we breathe to the food and water we consume, to the furniture and home accessories that we use and so much more. Sustainability & Wellness, two very powerful factors entered my life at a very early stage of my career. While they hold great value when used individually, and serve different missions, they also create a much stronger value when combined together. Sustainability is the capacity to improve the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of the Earth's supporting ecosystems. Wellness is the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. It extends beyond physical health and incorporates many different dimensions that should work in harmony. Wellness & sustainability when combined, make our beautiful line of furniture and accessories a perfect example of our values coming together to design a fun, modern yet minimalistic line. Bridging the gap between wellness and sustainability, we have used these aspects that are key elements of our lives in our Wellbeing Collection,” she said.
Innovating for a more sustainable lifestyle
With an aim to make sustainable furniture affordable, Deanne and Mohh understood the need to ideate and innovate. The collection aimed to create décor pieces that not only looked sleek but also elevated comfort. During the creation of this collection, the team at Mohh encouraged the designers to push their limits of creativity and come up with designs that are unique, daring, and minimalistic, while also balancing its materials, functionality, and cost.
As Deanne advocates and guides people through the art of wellbeing and fitness over the last two decades, with a keen interest in three years of commercial art and interior design, she believes that it does not just stop at your own self. Well-being also extends to your surroundings, your home, and most importantly the environment. As an important aspect of her life, her aim to launch the Wellbeing Collection along with Mohh, was to create minimal eye-catching interior products that add balance to your life. An extension to her mantra, “Self Care is the new health care!”, the Wellbeing Collection promotes sustainable living and acceptability towards one’s own wellness.
The Collection consists of a media unit, side table, bookshelf, stools, bench, mirror, lamp, vases, aroma diffusers, tray, cutlery holder, napkin holder. Playing around with diverse materials and textures, the collection includes designs that truly make a strong statement. The compact and minimal curation of this collection leaves a soothing space by foregoing the inessential clutter and stress in the room making it your go-to spot.