Hi, I’m Isha

Founder, Decoy Galleries — a bridge between California living and Indian craft

Before Decoy Galleries, I spent years in biotech research—running experiments, managing products, solving problems with data and science. It was fulfilling work, but it wasn't this. This—these handblockprinted table runners, these handmade paper journals, this bridge between California and India—this is personal.

Where It Started

We're surrounded by the fast and forgettable. But in my childhood, India lived in handmade teak furniture, carved textiles, and slow rituals. Nothing was styled. Everything had a soul.

My grandmother's home wasn't curated for Instagram. It was layered with objects that had been touched, used, loved for decades. The brass serving dishes. The blockprinted bedspreads. The wooden toys that had entertained three generations of children.

Every object told a story. Every corner held memory.

As I began creating a home of my own—first as a new wife, then as a new mother—I longed for objects that meant something. That told stories. That held time. But I couldn't find them. At least not in a way that fit my modern California life.

“Nothing needed to be styled. Everything had a soul.”

Why Decoy Galleries Exists

Decoy is a return to that. Modern design rooted in centuries-old craft, made with purpose, meant to last. So the next generation—like my daughter Meera—can inherit beauty that feels both grounded and free. This isn't about nostalgia. It's about intention.

What We Believe

• Objects should have origins worth knowing.
• Artisans deserve sustainable income and respect for their craft.
• Sustainability isn't a trend—it's a responsibility.
• We honor the quiet mastery of lifelong makers.
• We use 100% cotton and azo-free dyes.
• Handmade paper invites you to slow down and write with meaning.
• Your home should reflect your values, not just your aesthetic.
• Beauty and practicality can—and should—coexist.

The same table runner that elevates your Diwali dinner should handle Tuesday night spaghetti. The favors you give at celebrations should be meaningful enough to keep.

About the Name

Decoy invites you to look twice—to pause and notice what isn't obvious at first glance. Every object, like every person, holds layers worth discovering. It's a reminder that the most valuable things often reveal themselves slowly; that craftsmanship lives in the details; that there's always more to the story.

What's Next

This is our first collection, but it won't be our last. I'm already working on new designs with our artisan family in Jaipur—dreaming up ways to bring more of that slow, soulful beauty into modern homes.

I'm building this for Meera, so she grows up knowing where she comes from—so heritage isn't just something we talk about; it's woven into the fabric of our daily life. Literally.

And I'm building this for you: for anyone longing for objects that mean something; for conscious consumers whose purchases reflect their values; for all of us who want the things we bring into our homes to tell stories worth passing down.

Thank You

Thank you for being here. For supporting artisan families in India. For choosing slow over fast, meaningful over disposable, story over stuff. This is more than a brand. It's a homecoming. And I'm so grateful you're part of it.