The guys that make you want to shop

That irresistible rug would be perfect for when your feet touch the floor on a cold morning, those cushions go perfectly with that rug, and those linen trousers would feel divine when you’re snuggled up on that sofa, that incidentally goes perfectly with that rug. It’s all just so perfect! Now, you’re probably wondering what happened to that last paycheck. A store is ultimately just a space full of products, but hidden behind in well-concealed rooms are clandestine forces more commonly known as, visual merchandisers. Creative displays can make or break a store, it’s a visual language that catches a potential buyer’s eye and lures them into making a purchase. Complementing colours, texture and products, keeping in mind lighting, location and accessibility, styling a store is an intricate practice. Welcome to the ‘dark side’, into the minds of these twisted creative geniuses that make you want to take the entire stock back home. It’s time for an interrogation, it’s time to find out what makes them tick, it’s time for some answers…

Maithili Ahluwalia
Bungalow Eight

Describe your style in three words.
Eclectic, effortless (hopefully) and individualistic.

Why would you choose Bungalow Eight?
Because it mixes the ‘local’ with the ‘global’ and in that way speaks to me philosophically, aesthetically and visually.

What do you do on your day off?
Escape to our house by the sea or in the Western Ghats and turn my phone off.

What’s currently on your sketch book?
My sketch book is keeping my eyes wide open.

Name a space in Mumbai you would love to style.
Rippon club as there’s very little to do.

Your dream job.
Have it.

Your uniform.
Bata sneakers.

The cushions on your couch are from…
Where else?

A character in Indian mythology you most resemble.
Draupadi.

The last gift you bought and from where?
Laurence dolige men’s shirt from en inde.

Your favourite Indian design publication
Oops — want me to have frenemies?

Sussanne Roshan
The Charcoal Project

Describe your style in three words.
Industrial, shabby and chic.

Why would you choose The Charcoal Project?
Because it’s a design experience which is a must to experience!

What do you do on your day off?
All my free time is with my kids! Playing monopoly and iPad games.

What’s currently on your sketch book?
The truth is I have many sketch books! (Old artists that inspire frolic + making a space ignite).

Name a space in Mumbai you would love to style.
Asiatic Library — Fort and Sassoon Docks Lounge Bar.

Your dream job.
Charcoal Realty.

Your uniform.
Lacrosse Keds/ Jeans and black tee.

The cushions on your couch are from…
Andrew Martin.

A character in Indian mythology you most resemble.
Parvati.

The last gift you bought and from where?
Antique doll house from London.

Your favourite Indian design publication
Architectural Digest and Elle Decor.

Nikhil Mansata
Le Mill

Describe your style in three words. 
Minimal, clean and pared down.

Why would you choose Le Mill?
For the brilliantly curated selection of labels  including Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row and the super Swedish brand Acne. For home, everything from the bright Pantone coffee mugs, Gubi desk lamps and the very inviting Gervasoni sofas.

What do you do on your day off?
Hatha yoga and run by the sea.

What’s currently on your sketch book?
Tattoo ideas.

Name a space in Mumbai you would love to style.
I can’t wait for Horniman Circle to evolve into a luxury shopping destination. I’d love to style some of the new spots there.

Your dream job?
I’d like to do a fashion, lifestyle and home makeover show.

Your uniform.
Black. Navy. Grey.

The cushions on your couch are from…
Shyam Ahuja and Le Mill.

A character in Indian mythology you most resemble. 
None. Maybe the cartoon character Fido Dido a little.

The last gift you bought and from where. 
Trainers by Jeremy Scott for Adidas.

Your favourite Indian design publication.
Architectural Digest and DOMUS

Pavitra Rajaram – Good Earth
Describe your style in three words.
Eclectic, textural, saturated.

Why would you choose Good Earth?
Because it is The store!

What do you do on your day off?
Read and surf the Internet for random celebrity gossip.

What’s currently on your sketch book?
 Russian printed textile patterns.

Name a space in Mumbai you would love to style.
Banganga.

Your dream job.
A talk show like Oprah.

Your uniform.
Good Earth sustain indigo khadi kurta, white farshi and a beaten silver taveez.

The cushions on your couch are from…
Rifat Ozbek’s store Yastik in Istanbul and Good Earth.

A character in Indian mythology you most resemble.
Vishvakarma.

The last gift you bought and from where
A vintage silver lorgnette from Chor Bazaar.

Your favourite Indian design publication?
None really. I live on Pinterest.

Capital Connect
Mrinalini Mukherjee’s meticulously crafted bronze sculptures at Nature Morte Gallery, Vivan Sundaram’s eerie yet poetic mannequins at Vadhera Art Gallery, an opening of Muhammad Zeeshan’s miniature paintings at Latitude 28 and Diana Campbell’s sound exhibition Audible Forces, it’s definitely been an action packed week in the capital. 

But the list doesn’t quite end there; exhibiting artists like Tejal Shah, Alexandre Singh and The Otolith Group among many others, the Devi art foundation is currently hosting an extensive show based on the symbol of the black sun. The exhibition, co-curated by London based artist Shezad Dawwod and curator Tom Trevor is certainly a must see.

Of course the highlight of the week was the opening of Atul Dodiya’s retrospective Experiments With Truth, at the National Gallery of Modern Art. We mentioned the landmark exhibition a few weeks ago, the extensive show records  some of Atul’s most iconic work, ranging from the early 80’s to 2012.

If you’re not planning a trip to Delhi anytime soon, tucked away in a little lane near Kala Ghoda, the Delhi Art Gallery has made it’s way to our city, with an inaugural show ironically enough called Mumbai Modern.