A carved chunk of black stone near the entrance of the apartment is flanked by an intricately embroidered silk throw hung up on a wall, and the dining room, further in, is similarly speckled with an interesting assortment of art. “My father likes to collect things,” says Maya Bhogilal-Goyel (29), who heads a marketing and event-management company, “I’m not much of a collector myself.” Yet, this day, Maya’s home is one of the four collection points for Back Alley, a non-profit initiative she co-founded with her second cousin Radhika Dhawan (30), to organise garage sales for charity. Proceeds from their upcoming sale will be channelled through women’s group, Inner Wheel, to various organisations for the welfare of women and children, such as the Kinnari Foundation, Shri Atmavallabh Self-Reliance Mahila Centre and Sparsh.

Maya Bhogilal-Goyel and Radhika Dhawan sort out the collection before the sale; (foreground) Handpainted Tequila Lab (Approximate price: R1,000)