Threaded Threat

Leopards have always drawn me in—silent, elusive, and full of presence. I’ve photographed them whenever I’ve been lucky enough to cross paths in the wild. For the guest room at Sukoon, it felt right to let these images lead, and to build a theme around their quiet power.

Leopard cub - feather art

But I didn’t want it to stop at just photographs. I began looking for art that carried the same spirit. One of the pieces I’m especially fond of is from a young self taught artist in Shimoga who paints wildlife on bird feathers. The piece—a leopard cub on a single feather—is delicate, detailed, and full of life. It’s the kind of art I love: personal, handmade, and a little unexpected.

Embroidered leopard print t shirt

Mass-produced leopard-themed decor is easy to find—rugs, resin figurines, the usual stuff. But I’ve always preferred pieces with a story. So when I stumbled on a high quality yet inexpensive, black T-shirt with a bold, embroidered leopard face, I paused. It wasn’t art—not yet—but it had potential.

I envisioned the final piece clearly: the embroidery framed in a circular wooden mount, turned into a striking wall feature. With that idea in mind, I reached out to my architect and one of his craftsmen. See the next image.

The t-shirt reimagined !

It’s this blend that defines my choices. Personal memories, reimagined objects, and thoughtful craftsmanship— shaped in quiet collaboration with my architect, whose involvement enriches these small ideas and helps bring them to life. Everything here, even the wild cats on the wall, has found its place with intention.

P.S: The website where I discovered the T-shirt has since disappeared. Knowing it’s no longer out there somehow makes this little piece feel more treasured—like it found its way home just in time.

...Still a tree