Could you walk us through your creative process? Do you design every detail in advance, or is there room for experimentation during the making process?
Once we come up with an idea, our design team begins work on it to create a prototype which is then refined. This usually involves a lot of experimentation and can be a very long process, but the process definitely benefits from all elements of the supply chain being under the same roof, within the Karkhana.
How would you describe the evolution of your aesthetic since launching your career as a designer over 20 years ago?
When we first started, we were among the pioneers of a new design vernacular—‘India Modern’. We looked at different references from Indian architecture, culture and heritage, references from historic paintings and common symbols such as peacocks and lotuses. We created modern interpretations of these things and with that a new story, that was contemporary but still at its heart, Indian.
Today, almost 20 years later, we work with international architects and designers. Our aesthetic has evolved into something much more contemporary, organic, and abstract, driven by creative curiosity and innovation. Rather than the Indian identity defining an aesthetic and technique, it now guides the technique but not the aesthetic. It’s a seismic shift.