When were you first drawn to design?
SS: My great-grandfather founded Essajees, an art and antiques dealership in Mumbai, over 106 years ago. I have grown up in a fourth-generation family business and have always been surrounded by the most beautiful items and objects; so, the design was very innate to me. I did my Bachelor's from Duke University in North Carolina, US. My time there was very influential because I studied art history and was always surrounded by lots of art. At Oxford, where I was a visiting student, I studied 19th-century French art; looking into the nuances of art and design was very important to me.
What is the story behind Essajees Atelier?
SS: I worked with my dad in the family business for five years, and it was during this time that I decided to become an interior designer, as it would be better than selling furniture. I decided to pursue interiors because of a client of Essajees who really encouraged me to take the leap - she saw I had great understanding of design. This made me go back to school to pursue a Diploma in Interior Design, and then I started my own studio, Essajees Atelier, in 2014.
How has being surrounded by antiques influenced your design style?
SS: Antiques have always been a very important part of my design ideology and style. Having spent time seeing how things were made and the proportions that they were made in, and appreciating craftsmanship, has definitely influenced how we work in our studio today.
Does the studio have a signature style? What type of projects do you lean toward?
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Denne historien er fra Designindia 143-utgaven av Designindia.
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A Legacy Continues
Leveraging the success of his family's export business, Naman Jain is focusing on creating a retail presence in India
Creating KAIRA
Long fascinated by Indian fabric, Nikita Gupta has launched an attractive line of contemporary apparel in traditional block prints
Stories faces tell
Aditya Narula dabbled in various vocations before he realized portraiture was the best way to express the fascinating complexities of the people he encountered along the way
time tested DESIGN
Surrounded by art and architecture as a child, Sarah Sham went on to take the family antiques business in a new direction through her interior design venture
DANGEROUSLY DELICATE
Kavya Potluri's attention to minute detail is what sets her intricate and unconventional jewelry apart
music as muse
A multidisplinary visual artist, Aaron Pinto, also known as Kidsquidy, has had an interesting journey that started with MTV and has him now working on everything from music videos to stage design
DEVELOPING A DISCOURSE
Documentary photographer Taha Ahmad believes his work has a greater purpose than merely being admired by a select audience for its esthetic value. It's when people are able to see the underside of society and understand the prevailing social injustice that the work tries to reveal that it is truly worthwhile.
Tiny little Stories
Creating miniature worlds allows Ruchika Nambiar to continue to play childlike games of make-believe
The Richness Of Handmade
Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav are committed to bringing together many hands and hearts through their clothing label ‘amrich’
The perfect balance
Aniruddh Mehta is as much graphic designer as visual artist, and he tries to do justice to both through his work at Studio Bigfat
