Kanchi Designs is the story of a creative mother and an industrious son who have together woven beautiful magic. Their recently launched flagship store at Sewri, in Mumbai stands testimony to their passion.
This is a unique intricate single-needle quilting design in a classic baroque pattern.
Kanchi Designs was established in the year 1991, by a mother-son duo named Shobhna and Kunal Mehta. “Our family has been in the textile industry for almost a century. We were one of the few key traders in the market. My father was involved in manufacturing. However, we decided to create an absolute niche market, which combined both fashion and home décor,” explains Kunal, principal designer & director, delving a bit into the history of the brand. Kanchi, the name of Kunal’s younger sister, has indeed proved lucky for the company!
The 1300 square feet space displays their unique products and provides a window to the creativity and design ethos of the company. One of the special features of the studio is that they work on an appointment-only policy.
It differs from a store set-up where people just walk in, echoing the belief that the passion with which each design is created must be reflected in interactions with the consumer as well. This personal touch combined with the warmth and variety reflected in the décor somehow enhances the aura of the outlet.
The products are a new line of high-end home fashion products that combine traditional techniques and contemporary inspirations.
A statement brick wall is one of the striking elements of the place that immediately catch one’s attention. Presently this feature wall displays the latest collection named ‘Emblematic’ which was showcased in Paris earlier this year. The collection combines elegance with bespoke handcrafted designs in any piece of furniture or furnishing, and is showcased with much splendour.
They chose to retain the space’s original industrial look with a high 14 feet ceiling all in its natural colour. “We have always believed in the strength of the decor of any space – large or small. It does influence the customers’ thought process when they see the display in totality with accessories, lights, rugs, lamps et al,” explains Kunal.
Inspired by natural motifs this brings the outdoors within!
Just the right amount of furniture has been used to display the fabrics and designs. It is enough to give a sense of what they would look like in a home-setting, and yet, it does not overpower the products. The displays change every six months as new collections are introduced. There is also a small mezzanine area that commands attention with its plush opulent set-up showcasing various designs.
Regarding the displays, there is a noticeable variety in the manner in which fabrics are displayed. This breaks the monotony of a single kind of arrangement.
So, there are displays on the statement wall, as a part of varied set-ups, stacked and shelved as well as neatly hung on hangers just like the traditional way one sees fabrics displayed in most shops. This makes looking around the store an interesting experience of discovery.
Kanchi symbolises the union of Indian heritage in textiles with an ever-evolving global aesthetic.
The products are an entirely new line of high-end home fashion products that combine traditional techniques and contemporary inspirations. From vintage velvets to pure linens, the brand has produced masterpieces through a range of fabrics with the highest degree of perfection, finish and presentation.
They have also introduced bed décor this season with very elegant bed dressings in linen and cotton silk which are available in various colours.
Kanchi’s collections are suited for both the domestic as well as the international market. A delicate and careful differentiation between the two is sustained through the use of colours, patterns and textures. Kanchi symbolises the union of Indian heritage in textiles with an ever-evolving global aesthetic. The showroom is a worthy milestone in the ever evolving journey of Kanchi Designs.
Text By Dhanishta Shah
Photographs Kanchi by Shobhna & Kunal Mehta
Contact
Web: www.kanchidesigns.com
