Almost a year in the making, designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil’s new flagship store in Bandra is a tale of two energies; it is minimal, yet full of whimsy and unexpected detail. Straight lines lead the eyes to interesting accessories, like a bright red telephone or a vintage typewriter. The greys and beiges of the walls are offset by the striking colours of their creations. It is in this way that I find the store to be a perfect representation of its co-founders, their design sensibilities and clientele. “Our store is minimalistic yet grand with edgy connotations, very similar to the S&N men and women of Bandra,” says Shantanu.
The brief for the design of the store was to create a state-of-the-experience in the heart of Bandra that inspired customers to experiment with their ensembles. Further, Nikhil says, “We wanted to replicate our belief of Patriotic Chic and amalgamate it with eclectic resonances and a vision to provide a design and style haven for our Bandra Mavericks.” Shantanu and Nikhil worked with their team for 10 months to conceptualise and create the space. “We curated the store with minute detail and expertise, so each corner has a special meaning for us,” they say. However, it is the double-height Shantanu & Nikhil wall, right at the entrance of the space, that is their favourite. “It’s minimalistic and stands for linearity in design, with the liberty to experiment,” explains Shantanu.
The store is spread over three floors and the showstopper is the bridal section on the top level that encapsulates the regality of old-world charm but is finished with a pop of modernity, a surge of yellow. This new venture houses the brand’s Anti-Trend Ceremonial and Sartorial collections for both men and women.
For the launch, Shantanu and Nikhil led the #BandraBrigade through the doors for a celebration of arts, culture, design and music that was curated by Farhan Akhtar,”Farhan is a great friend to us and his personality coordinates very well with our anti-trend brand philosophy. He’s been crossing barriers in all spheres of life, be it acting, sports, direction or singing and that is such an inspiring aspect of his that goes very well with our India story,” they say. The launch was attended by Arjun Rampal, Hardik Pandya, Monica Dogra, Monica Bedi, Chitrangada Singh and Leander Paes, among others.
Scroll through for a sneak-peek of the store:
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