As one of the country’s foremost couturiers, Tarun Tahiliani new store at Qutab Garden in New Delhi’s historic Mehrauli area, has found an elegant utterance.
Just like his sari gown, the space marries essentially Indian elements with a contemporary feel that doesn’t feel contrived or oppressively ethnic. “When you walk into my space, I want you to know you’re entering my mind,” he says.
And it’s true, rare blood-red carnelian from Chennai has been fashioned into tabletops, andthe floor is a symphony of earthy-ochre sandstone from Rajasthan strewn with limited-editionTarunTahiliani carpets. The floor-cornices are in flamed granite beveled to mimic those fromChettinad palaces, and the Mughal filigree—the jaali—has been reinterpreted into bronze-patinaed screens that discreetly incorporate his brand’s single-T insignia. Custom-designedZoffany wallpapers for the backdrops of display vitrines, and all these are reflected in vintage,hand-etched mirrors.
It took the designer over seven months—from design to execution—to design the space to hisexacting specifications. As you enter, the foyer opens onto a short, bifurcated stairway that leadsup to the ready-to- wear sections featuring displays of his women’s and men’s collections. Behindthem, an 18 th -century, hand-carved wood facade from Gujarat dominates the stairwell that leadsdown to the haute couture section replete with well-appointed private rooms for trials andlengthy shopping sessions, all illuminated with antique Osler crystal chandeliers. The centerpieceis a filigreed lamp that throws soft, dappled shadows on the ceilingpunctuated with hand-carvedrosettes that could have adorned a palace a century ago.
Even the stairs are studded with flowershand-crafted out of cabochon mother-of- pearl. Each petal—there are a total of 90 flowers with12 individual petals each—took artisans four hours to turn out.
