A MODERN, TRADITIONAL EXPRESSION

The project designed by ‘The Works Interiors’ is an outstanding example for cohesively refurbishing furniture, upcycling pieces, reusing materials and respecting the environment in order to celebrate traditional Indian art and culture.

Project: Gaurang Store, New Delhi;

Architects: Devika Khosla; The Works Interiors

Hand-woven textiles have always been a part of India’s tradition. However, with the arrival of power looms, the heritage of the handloom sector suffered drastically. As India’s fashion industry moved towards cheaper, machine-powered textiles, weavers found themselves out of employment. Giving a ray of hope to these weavers, and re-establishing hand-woven pieces in the mainstream fashion, the client, a pioneer heirloom revivalist and founder of the fashion brand Gaurang, expanded his pan-India presence within the precincts of Delhi, and the store’s spatial arrangement and design were grounded with the intention of celebrating the traditional heritage.

Conscious of the importance of a minimal environmental impact both in his work and his overall design ideology, the client, together with the architectural team, crafted a space that manifested a modern expression along with traditional materials and craftsmanship. The team consciously invested in heirloom pieces picked from vintage stores and refurbished them in the new store, and when they moved, they reused every single piece in the new space, either as is or after refurbishing it a little; grounding their design intent in sustainability.

Located in a quaint neighbourhood in Delhi, the retail space is a spatial representation of his brand values and approach to authentic Indian design. The label invigorates traditional weaving techniques of India from different states, marrying vivid techniques to manifest a grand assemblage of sarees and Indian clothing that are a testimony of the time-honored culture of weaving.