People have for long celebrated the institution called marriage. But promoting and rejoicing in singledom? Oh yes, today there are many who do that too…and in so many different ways. Now there is even a whole range of products, which affirm that being single is fun and has a charm of its own. The lifestyle store Either Or has a huge repertoire of home accessories for both the single-by-choice man and woman. They have cushion covers, drapes, linen, bar and kitchen essentials, and more…basically everything that one would need to do up a smart singleton pad of ones own.

For girls with a penchant for the soft and pretty, there are frills and flounces. There's a range of 'sharp and severe' stuff too, for those with more minimalist tastes. For the alpha male type, there is the rough, rugged and casual collection. There's a range that would appeal to an older single woman or man's sensibility too.

Explaining the concept behind this new line of accessories, Ritika of Either Or says, "We at Either Or have taken the liberty of modifying Faiz's line 'Aur bhi gam hai zamane main mohabbat ke siva' to 'Aur bhi khushi hai zamane main mohabbat ke siva'." It's about having other passions other than marriage and love she explains.

'Happily Unmarried' is a Delhi based group of single men who design a host of interesting products - lamps, beer and coffee mugs, ties, stoppers, peg measures, photo frames, CD racks, ashtrays, trinkets, linen - ranging from the quirky to the downright bizarre!

If it's girly knick-knacks you're looking for, there are plenty of butterfly cushion covers, glass bangle tea light holders, beaded and sequined boxes and photo frames, fabric flowers, zari stationery, stone jewellery, tote bags and footwear, soft linen, lampshades, zardozi coasters, and plenty more. There's a wonderfully uninhibited, atypical, free-n-easy quality to the products. So if you're single and unapologetic about it, treat yourself with something from a store that echoes your choices. Or shop here for friends who're not just waiting in the wings for Mr. ya Ms. Right to come along, but are taking centre-stage as solo artists. Either way, head for Either Or.

Either Or, 39, Sohrab Hall, 21 Sassoon Road, Pune - 411 001, Phone: 26050225.

Ritika Ramtri Kumar