"Mind the shop" - Georgian Concept Store with Unique Items
"Mind the shop" is a new concept store in Tbilisi, where you will find interesting interior decorations and unique items.
Homeis.ge talked to the founder of "Mind the shop", Anano Abdushelishvili, who tells in detail about the store and the design elements there.
Anano, tell us about yourself, how did you become interested in architecture and interior design?
I am an art critic by profession, but I have also been researching the fashion industry for a long time. After graduating from bachelor, I changed my career direction to fashion and established a fashion education platform. I spent a lot of time getting an education in England and Spain and it was during this period that I discovered a lot of new interests. I have always been interested in and loved architecture and interiors, I think these are two quite important details in our daily lives and they have a great impact on the human psyche and mood.
What inspired the creation of Mind the Shop? Tell us about the concept of the store.
The inspiration came from the concept of a museum shop. When I visited museums, I liked their concept very much and I always thought that it would be good to have a similar one in Tbilisi. "Mind the shop" was one of my master projects. This is a concept store where you can buy a variety of items: interior decorations, mirrors and lamps, stationery, some furniture and also textiles. I think the interior defines the character of the people well.
Where do you get your inspiration from and which items in "Mind the shop" would you point out?
I probably get inspiration from life. I really love the research process that goes into creating a design. I think this is the most important stage before the idea is formed. The source of inspiration is everywhere, especially if you love art and live in Tbilisi. Tbilisi is a unique city with its Soviet architecture and visuals. From the "Mind the shop" selection I would choose mirrors that have the shape of old buildings in Tbilisi, a sketch by Petre Otskheli - Uriel Acosta, as well as a mirror in the shape of a vine, inspired by my favorite director's film (Yasujiro Ozu - Late Spring). I should also mention Uzbek textiles and pottery, all the details of which are handmade in Uzbekistan, and candles that have the shape of an antique fireplace.
The mirror was one of the first items with us and I think the right choice was to use this material with different visuals. Mirror shapes reflect different influences, be it Japanese culture, architecture, art or theater.
Tell us about your future plans.
We have many plans for the future. Due to the pandemic, we are currently focusing on digital commerce, but we are also planning innovations. For example, we will soon be able to buy mirrors for children's interiors. In this regard, we had a very interesting cooperation with one of the Georgian children's platforms. We plan to implement various collaborations and projects in the future.
