A PERFECT MERGER SHIVAN BHATIYA AND NARRESH KUKREJA

THEIR SENSIBILITIES MAY BE WORLDS APART, BUT A HARMONIOUS COLLABORATION DATING BACK TO THEIR COLLEGE DAYS HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR THE CREATION OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL LUXURY FASHION RETAIL EMPIRE. AT HOME AS WELL, THEY'VE SKILLFULLY MANAGED TO BLEND THEIR PERSONALITIES, SEAMLESSLY MARRYING A MINIMALIST AND ART-FOCUSED AESTHETIC WITH A WILD AND BOHEMIAN FLAIR. THE DUO WELCOME HELLO! TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL GURUGRAM HOME AND OFFER GLIMPSES INTO THEIR INTRIGUING LIFE

Nestled amidst a row of quintessential modern bungalows in a discreet and affluent neighbourhood of Gurugram, sits a unique home with an industrial façade made of corten steel. A vibrant orangey-brown on most days, it turns ochre yellow in the rain, and flits between hues of black and brown depending on the season. This unusual dynamism displayed so publicly at the front gate of their home describes the maverick designer duo Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja better than words can.

To all outward appearances, the two are poles apart. Narresh is more voluble while Shivan measures his words; Narresh enjoys unpredictability and being adventurous while Shivan is more laidback; Narresh is a morning person while Shivan comes into his own at night; Narresh looks within himself for creative inspiration while Shivan’s design sensibilities are strongly influenced by his surroundings and circumstances; Narresh was always an academic topper while Shivan would be trailing in the bottom three of the class. Yet, it is these differences that brought them together, making them two halves of a whole.

“What I lack he fills in and what he lacks I fill in,” says Narresh with a smile. “Truthfully, we first connected over our mutual love of travel. This has defined who we are as people and later as a brand.”

 FASHIONING A PARTNERSHIP