When Rahul Mishra first described the vision behind his first flagship store, it was atypically crisp. “A white cube,” he told me. “I’m heavily influenced by the way stores are designed in Paris, clean walls and lots of light filling the open space, so that all the attention goes to the garments.” It’s definitely a departure from the aesthetic favoured by most of his contemporaries, where the decor is often as opulent and awe-inspiring as the couture itself.
Photo: Dwaipayan Mazumdar
But one look inside Rahul Mishra’s giant white cube in Delhi’s Mehrauli neighbourhood, and you’ll see why his idea works.
A massive skylight in the roof bathes the store in light. It reflects off the pristine walls and onto the hand-embroidered lehengas and sculptural dresses that he’s most famous for. Since making history as the first Indian name to win the coveted Woolmark prize in 2014, the designer’s near-architectural approach to design has won him a loyal fan following around the world, most notably in Europe. And it’s this European sensibility that Rahul imported to his flagship store.
Photo: Dwaipayan Mazumdar
In a fortnight, the Rahul Mishra couture ’17 line will join the offerings at the store. We wouldn’t wait too long to pay a visit, if we were you.
Address: Rahul Mishra, Kalkadas Marg, Mehrauli, near Qutub Minar, Delhi
India’s most beautiful designer stores
Rahul Mishra’s debut effort joins the ranks of India’s most beautiful designer stores, from Sabyasachi’s palatial Delhi outpost to Tarun Tahiliani’s sea-facing flagship in Mumbai. Take a look.
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