Sabyasachi Mukherjee comes up with his flagship store in the capital. Spread over two wings and 13,500 sq ft, the place is marked by the designer’s signature grandeur and old world charm. By Devi Singh
He plays with sensorial delights to the hilt, each sight seeming more enticing than the other. The entire space seduces you into a make believe world of detachment where reality mingles with fantasy. The haze from the wafting incense greets you as you step in the newly launched store by the ace designer. From the strains of Shehnai from Banaras Gharana to sips of first flush Darjeeling, the world of Sabyasachi elevates you in every way possible. His essence and touch is palpable throughout each decadent sight and corner of the splendid store done in vintage opulence.
True to his style, the interiors and décor carry shades of deep maroon and red having a stark similarity to blood that runs as deep as his passion for art. The store itself is a spectacle in itself creating new vistas of impressive imageries as you go by. “I’m a stickler for good floors and walls, because that is what you see around all the time and of course, I make sure the textiles, accessories, even the crockery are upto the mark because these are the things that I personally love. I didn’t want to follow a cookie cutter model to create anything, be it my stores, sets or a project such as Taj Cinema Suite in london. Hence everything is always handpicked or designed by me in my workshop and studio.” said Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
The tall ceilings, hand painted chandeliers with Dutch and Oriental porcelain, mood lighting, hand-fired Portuguese tiles, antique mirrors, vintage photographs placed in a peculiar order, lithographs, rich carpets and rugs decorate the walls of the store. “The small touches which define the atmosphere make the difference. In my stores for example, incense is an integral element. There is also no natural light,” he said. The various paintings and photographs donning the wall are from Sabyasachi Art Foundation with sculptures and art inspired by Qajar paintings from Persian dynasty, Indian miniatures and calendar art.
“The Sabyasachi Art Foundation supports artists from Bengal and is working towards an exhibit of their work. Two years ago, I identified few artists who joined me from varied backgrounds to revive their love for art which had taken a backseat in the struggle for keeping up with their jobs.” the designer pointed.
A studio was set up for these artists to get them to paint for the joy of art. They often travel with the design team and gain rich insights inspired by diverse influences. Mukherjee’s stores are a well known testimonial for his passion for art. Everything from the Sabyasachi Art Foundation will have a feel of nostalgia and Indian handicraft. “One of the most exciting part of space design is to look into the technical elements. Sometimes it’s about sourcing the paint, wall paper, bathroom fittings, and modular kitchen fittings, tableware, cutlery glassware and china. And for other times it’s about the intricacies that you have to look into or develop overtime with mood lighting, incense and finer nuances. And technology is carefully hidden away only for functional purposes.” said he.
Inside the store there are block printed chintz, eclectic crockery, bottles of ittar collected from the bylanes of Old Delhi, lucknow and Kolkata and vintage curios creating an antiquated ambience for its patrons to shop in. Speaking on the inspiration behind the store and what his interpretation of art is, he told us, “Meaningful design is always about acknowledging who you are and where you come from. Hence for me, a reflection of Calcutta, not Kolkata is significant in whatever I do in my stores. It’s not a necessity but a natural instinct. I’m deeply inspired by our cultural past. I’ve always been fascinated by curio stores from all over the world which have an enchanting quality about them.”
The store, divided by a heritage monument with a grand staircase, houses two wings, ready to wear, comprising saris and kurtas with a separate floor for menswear. The second wing is dedicated to bridal section. “I’m someone who likes hunting for special things which might be totally irrelevant and almost indulgent to other people. I like to make stores which have a distinct feature and quality to them. There has to be something to do with old world charm, romantic opulence, a sense of mystery and yet at the same time something which is intimate and cozy so that people do not feel intimidated. I have always been fascinated by Indian surrealism. I think that the sense of heightened imagination and drama are my favorite elements.” he explained.
The store also incorporates jewellery by Kishandas & Co. for Sabyasachi. The couture jewellery section brings forth the finest hand crafted precious jewels. The store hence becomes a one-stop-shop for brides and grooms and everyone else looking for Indian clothing and jewellery solutions."The Sabyasachi bridal look is almost incomplete without the spectacular jewellery by the famed jewellers from Hyderabad Kishandas & co, for Sabyasachi. Collaborative design between us has resulted in almost an iconic revival of traditional Indian wedding jewellery." he noted.
The various trunks and luggage found in the store are from The Trunks Company, the brainchild of Priyank and Paritosh Mehta, and Parisian designer livio Delegues. On his collaboration with ‘The Trunk Company’ he said, “At Sabyasachi we strive to work and collaborate with the best, and in bespoke trunk and luggage category, there’s nobody who does better than The Trunk Company, Jaipur. We have associated with them in the past as well for “Ferozabad” collection for the couture set for our show. We have partnered with them and they will be a part of the new flagship store in Delhi.”
Apart from this, there is also an organic prêt line of clothing and revival of ‘Chota Sabya’ which will soon find its way into the store. Speaking on the same Mukherjee said, “Chota Sabya is Sabyasachi’s cultured Indian clothing for children. We intend to revive it by bringing in the collection to the store hopefully somewhere around September,” he concluded.