Building Urban Homes

Sarita Handa’s Mumbai Store

Sarita Handa is a name synonymous with premium home furnishings and is recognized worldwide as a leading innovator for more than 20 years now. Two years ago, she launched their first retail store in Khan Market, New Delhi followed by her second flagship store at MG Road, Gurgaon. Continuing with their focus on catering to customers who believe in quality and style, they have now widened their horizons by opening yet another store in Mumbai. With options galore, the 2,500sq.ft store is nestled in Shakti Mill Lane, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.

Sarita Handa’s Mumbai Store

Designed by Livin’ Colors Design, the store stands big and impressive. A stand-alone property, the space excels with oodles of natural light and a hanger-like industrial ceiling and a multilevel mezzanine floor. A small courtyard filled with greens and a beautiful Banyan tree alongside is bound to evoke a feeling of tranquility and well-being. The loft-like tiered architecture along with merchandising and Sarita Handa’s product line offers an ambience that allows you to soak in a home-like feel. The store entrance is a mix of contemporary with old world antique styles. The effect has been created by popping teal on doors and windows teamed with an interesting antique stone Buddha sculpture – right at the entrance.

Sarita Handa’s Mumbai Store

Elegant, eye-catchy and exclusive, the modern and immensely livable look is outfitted in a soothing colour palette designed to showcase each piece beautifully, with products displayed in small groupings and concepts, all created to enhance the shopping experience. The store looks and speaks everything true to Sarita Handa’s essence.

Vault Café—Redefining British Raj Era

Vault Café

Ambiance: Nestled in the heart of Connaught Place, New Delhi, this brand new eatery joint resonate a certain industrial ambiance that will remind one of a store house of British East India Company. Dark emerald, teal, brick brown and red dominate the colour palette of this place. Leather and velvety seating arrangements placed spaciously across 6000 square feet area makes this place a party paradise.

Vault Café

Like the name suggests, the entrance of the restaurant is like a huge vault. The classy décor elements only add to the vintage vibe of this thematic space. The notion of dine and party inside the vault was customary in the past of the Queen’s nation, which acts as the core mantra of this restaurant. The rustic undertones of the interiors have transformed this café cum lounge bar into a colonial space with influences from the British Raj era. Interestingly, classic vintage note has been subtly blended with concoctions of grunge finishes; for instance, exposed iron bracing, non-processed cement walls, occasional patches of distressed walls, raw wooden effigies and more.

Vault Café

The lounge bar also has an attached terrace where you can sit and enjoy some unusually splendid flavored hookkas. This area overlooks Connaught Place and Palika Bazaar; and it is quite a visual delight. Plus what makes a lunch better on a winter afternoon in Delhi! Overall, this place made me feel adventurous at some subconscious level; maybe because looking at the vaults and chambers (small cubicles of seating areas recreated inside mini vaults) made me feel like, I am on some sort of a treasure hunt.

Penne bacon and mushroom

Food: The menu housed dishes from many different cultures. It was a very impressive spread. I started with some Pokchoi and Water chestnut dim sums. These delicate little dumplings of joy were mouthwatering. The flavour was new to my palate and the concept even newer. The coating was crystal-like gentle and the stuffing was moist and velvety. After this, I ordered for a serving of extra spicy chicken wings; and boy-o-boy, was it smoking hot or what?! The chicken wings were six in pieces and I wished they made it eight because it was so delightfully spicy with subtle hints of sweetness. I love hot, spicy sauces and this particular ‘extra spicy’ sauce made the meal apt. And oh, it went well with my second serving of sweet, crimson sangria. Post this, I opted for prawns red chili; it was spicy as expected and the prawns were soft and well-cooked. Lastly, my super appetizing ‘starter’s’ expedition concluded with a serving of traditional fish fingers.

Mint and lemon chicken

Moving on to the main course, I ordered for a nice serving of grilled chicken breast with mushroom and peppercorn sauce. The chicken breast straight out of a charcoal grill was crisp on the topmost layer and juicy in the center. This was accompanied by a small portion of grilled seasonal veggies and cheddar mashed potatoes. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The lunch ended on happy, wintry notes with a large slice of tiramisu cake. Did someone say #awsomesauce? Well, I did!

FIsh and chips

Recommendations: The crew here is extremely polite and well-versed with the menu. Ask them for specials or maybe let them know your ‘taste’ and they sure will help you zero down upon the best delicacies the restaurant has to offer, suited best for your palate. Also, if you are a fan of seesha, ask your steward to guide you with the flavours available. Personally, I would recommend a rich and mild blend of paan masala and green apple. This place has something for everyone—be it brunch with the ladies or a bachelorette party, a boys night out or lunch with family, you will have a great time; I can vouch for it.

Find them at: F 60, Connaught Place, New Delhi

Call them at: 011-33105674

 

 

Payal Singhal for Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Payal Singhal and Showstopper Vani Kapoor

Payal Singhal has always researched in depth for her collections and this season, she was inspired by India’s first fashion export to the world, the ‘Chintz’ print, which came from the Coromandal Coast.

Payal Singhal

Aptly naming her collection ‘Excavations’ for the fashion week, Payal’s display of the lovely iconic Indian print was translated into deep tones of aqua, navy, teal, sienna, cranberry and coral, which she transferred onto luxurious crepes, silks and linens.

Payal Singhal

Known for her trendsetting silhouettes, Payal brought in deconstructed Indian shapes to highlight the beauty of her ensembles. Interesting entries were the racer-back choli teamed with crepe churidar-skirt and printed overlap panel, the chiffon dupatta draped sleeve for the kurta, the silk mul lehenga-sari, and navy linen embroidered ghagra-sharara pants and the silver ring embroidered cutout short dress, which offered several options to the stylish buyer.

Payal Singhal

For the showstopper Vani Kapoor, it was a cranberry red, gold and silver ring embroidered choli with matching churidar-lehenga and dupatta. Women who love practical, stylish creations will adore this collection by Payal Singhal.

Celebration of Indian handlooms and textiles at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014

Debashri Samanta

‘Hooked’ by Debashri Samanta- Tussar, silk and woolen jamdani came together for Debashri Samanta who enchanted the audience with her Vietnam-inspired collection called ‘Hooked’ at the fashion week.

Debashri Samanta

Eager to recreate the rustic, rich culture of the far eastern country with touches of contemporary appeal, Debashri celebrated the beauty of old and new with creative vigour. The traditional jamdani fish motifs and loose cotton was engineered to suit new age silhouettes. Bringing to centre stage the stylishly torn hand-knitted woolens, Debashri told a fashionable tale of craft, culture and hints of poverty from Vietnam’s exotic heritage. Fish and hook motifs were hand-woven on the woolen jamdani, as well as the shredded knit covers. The colour story was sombre with black, white, purple and grey being the base.

Debashri Samanta

Opening the show with a printed coat over an asymmetric, knotted- at-the-hemline midi, Debashri followed it with a black jumpsuit with long crushed cotton hoodie. Woolen knit choli under a choir boy cape, front tie-up pants, boxy printed coat, over-lapping waist cropped pants, loose square kurta and a draw string gathered pleated skirt, were some of the interesting construction techniques that emerged on stage. To end the show Debashri brought in the knitted one-shoulder cover, a printed poncho and a one-shoulder long sleeve creation.

Divya Sheth

‘Ajrakh Jo Galicho’ by Divya Sheth- Divya Sheth was inspired by tea tables with Ajrakh prints. For the fashion week, Divya once again worked with Ajrakh for a collection called ‘Ajrakh Jo Galicho’ (Carpet of Ajrakh). Highlighting health conscious festive wear for spiritual souls, Divya had natural dyed Ajrakh with experimental Kalamkari, which was hand printed/painted and turned these two crafts into couture offerings.

Divya Sheth

Indian hues lit up the ramp as haldi and kesari, and mehendi sindoor, were created with pure turmeric, henna, madder flower and indigo. Adding Uzbek ikat, large doses of gotta, quilling, raffia tassels and safety pins, the winter collection of carpet dresses, scarves and draped garments were a visual delight to behold.

Divya Sheth

Colours were muted shades of khaki, brown, chutney and teal. The military like dress with raffia tassels, the wrap jumpsuit with woven shrug and the column creation with long sleeve tasseled bolero fitted into the theme perfectly. The multi fabric draped maxi added a feminine touch to the line, while the trio of indigo satin gowns with intricate embroidery on the sleeves and bodice, offered a more formal option. Dhoti pants were visible under long kameez and jacket, while the final khaki lehenga and printed kurta-coat with pleated 3D fan appliqués was a perfect answer to semi formal wear.

Sayantan Sarkar

‘Live and Let Live’ by Sayantan Sarkar– The Kokeshi dolls of Northern Japan set Sayantan Sarkar on a fashionable journey for his collection aimed at men and women at the fashion week. Merging cultures with traditional techniques, Sayantan called the collection ‘Live and Let Live’ and revived the popular doll motifs with shibori dyeing and added it to jamdani weaves and Indian block prints. These he cleverly highlighted with zardosi embroidery adding an Indian touch to the cotton mul, linen and jamdani that gave form and structure to the garments.

Sayantan Sarkar

The layered silhouettes had a trendy appeal as wide pants, asymmetric tops, and long skirts with cropped jackets or gilets, fitted trousers, fluid tunics and dresses created a colourful mélange of garments on the ramp with a hint of Samurai inspiration. Intricate construction was the hallmark of the men and women’s creations with the doll print appearing regularly in varying sizes. Knee-length jacket over a printed dress had striking appliqués on the shoulders, while kurtas had the addition of prints and colour blocking.

Sayantan Sarkar

Pleated long skirt looked good when teamed with jacket and tiny shrug. The asymmetric skirt, blouse and crossover waistcoat, and a four piece layered entry of skirt/tunic/shirt/waistcoat offered a multiple wardrobe option. Men’s wear had fitted short jackets, a colourful paneled shirt and a boldly printed layered jacket, which kept the theme intact. Shades of indigo, charcoal grey, tangerine orange and ecru along with sunflower yellow gave a fresh angle to the ensembles.