To CREATE a sense of opulence while sticking to simplicity and minimalism is a skill that is not easy to master. But for designer Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango, it’s like a walk in the park, or so he makes it look.
This genius knack for making an impression without being overwhelming is reflected in the interiors and decor of his brand new Walton Road store in Bengaluru. When he arrives at the new location for this interview, announcing that he was slightly delayed as he walked from his hotel on Residency Road, we learn that this dedication to simplicity is an extension of his personality. “Lately, I’ve been busy introducing myself to different materials because we got all the decor and fixtures in the store made in-house, right from the furniture to the lights and accent pieces,” he begins.
Spread across 1,800 square feet, the space is located on the top floor of an old bungalow. Every corner of the studio is designed in keeping with the Raw Mango aesthetic, think white-washed walls with strategically placed idols, antiques and other artefacts providing a visual treat. “I wanted it to be like a home, and not a shop. That’s why all the products are kept in cupboards, which also ensures they are dust-free,” explains Sanjay as he shows us around. “Our earlier store (at Cinnamon) was very small and didn’t have a dedicated trial room. But with this space, customers can get the real Raw Mango experience,” he adds.
The Bengaluru branch stocks a mix of pieces from some of his most popular collections, such as Heer, Monkey Business and Cloud People. While the festive line, Heer, his latest, finds inspiration from pre-partition Punjab with kurtas and shararas fashioned out of Benarasi silk brocade and silk satin, Monkey Business is crafted from fabrics such as gajji silk, mashru, kadhwa, and silver and gold silk brocades. The collecion includes shirts, wide legged trousers, tube and spaghetti jumpsuits, high-waisted box pleat palazzos and skirts besides jackets, crop tops, tunics and tie-up cardigans. Cloud People, on the other hand, is a departure from the Raw Mango aesthetic in terms of colour, as he has used a primarily white colour palette to experiment with the chikankari technique on Bengal mul, zardozi and handwoven brocade. “Bengaluru is as important as Delhi and Mumbai to me, so I have not really curated it any differently than I would do the other stores. What you get here is exactly what you get in my other locations,” reveals the designer who hails from a small town in Rajasthan.
Following the launch of Raw Mango in the city, Sanjay has now shifted focus to Delhi, where he reveals he is planning on setting up another store. He is also working on his next collection Hazara, which takes inspiration from Kashmir.
Rs.8,000 upwards. At Walton Road