Whether it’s her Autumn / Winter 2012 collection Sadhu and the Samurai, or Back to Basics, from last year, it’s clear that Payal Khandwala’s design aesthetic is informed by her background in Fine Arts. The designer’s affinity for jewel tones and colour blocking, make her a couturier whose storytelling is vivid and vibrant, but also equally tasteful. For the first time since the brand was born, Payal is all set to open her standalone store in Bengaluru (her first in South India). Located at the old bungalow that houses Cinnamon, where she retailed out of earlier, the new store is designed to highlight the clothes, and will stock the designer’s latest collection, Bloom along with some favourites and classics from her earlier work. She tells us more in an exclusive exchange:
How is the location a fit for your brand?
Actually even our two stores in Mumbai have some heritage elements to them. For example, the Colaba store is in a property that is 150 years old. And the three properties have many similarities — high ceilings, arched windows and simple and minimal aesthetics.
Tell us about the decor.
The clothes are suspended in the middle of the room ensconced by charcoal grey walls. I designed it keeping in mind our other flagship stores. This allows our jewel coloured clothes to take centrestage.
This store also has a large vintage brass pot with cherry blossoms, that are carried forward into a a mural I painted on one large gold leaf wall to add an element of luxury, and in the fitting room to personalise the space.
What can one expect from the collection?
Our clothes have always been trans seasonal, so in addition to our newly launched SS ‘18 line, Bloom, we also have our distinct silhouettes in jewel tones, our handwoven brocades and our pleated shapes.
What else are you working on this year?
I think one of the highlights this year would be going online. We’re currently working on setting up our own e-store on our website. So if all goes according to plan, we should be up and running in six months.
Rs.3,000 upwards. At Gangadhar Chetty Road