AMERICAN SPLENDOUR
Ralph Lauren brings to India, Hollywood-inspired interiors through his first home store in Delhi
Can a handful of colourful neckties at a time when narrow and plain was the norm, change everything? It can if you are Ralph Lauren, the man behind his eponymous brand. He started his fashion line in 1960s, which quickly became the most sought after label. But he didn’t stop there. In 1983, before his fashionable counterparts even looked towards furnishings, he launched Ralph Lauren Home Collection. His repertoire now includes bedding, furniture, lighting, rugs, china, glassware, wall coverings and paint. As for inspiration, Ralph Lauren Home draws it from time-honoured traditions around the world to tell distinctive stories; such as the sophistication of a modern penthouse, the grandeur of a noble English
estate, the adventurous spirit of a safari, the rustic sensibility of the American West, or the glamour of Hollywood. Last month marked the brand’s India launch. Brought to the country under Seetu Kohli Home, the store, located opposite the iconic Qutub Minar in New Delhi, is spread over 4,700 sq ft of beautifully crafted interiors.
WHAT’S IN STORE
“The layout is a mix of lifestyle and retail. We have a few areas, which display the collections as lifestyle settings where the clients can be both educated and inspired to style their homes. At the same time we have a gift gallery, a lighting and fabric gallery and a bed and bath shop, all elegantly put together under one roof,” explains Seetu Kohli, the India representative of the brand. Walk into the store and you are instantly transported to Ralph Lauren’s world of high design, classic decor and Hollywood-inspired aesthetics. “The highlight of the space is the client entertainment and meeting area inspired by The
Polo Bar, New York. There’s also an exquisite outdoor area again inspired by Ralph Paris, which overlooks the iconic Qutab Minar,” adds Kohli.
RETAIL THERAPY
The showroom accommodates everything you need in a home; rugs, furniture, lighting, accessories, bed and bath linen, and wall coverings. Traditional furnishings set against a backdrop of mahogany and ebony are just as much at home as contemporary cream lacquer and polished steel furniture. The lighting collection comprises striking larger-than-life crystal chandeliers to options in aged iron and natural brass. Under accessories on offer are jewellery boxes, desk accessories and beautiful game sets. There’s even a section dedicated to home fragrances. However, the piece de resistance is the 800-thread-count cotton sateen from the luxurious Bedford bedding collection complemented by woven jacquard and diamond-quilting. Equally alluring are the soft and luxurious Turkish cotton towels. The store and its wares are truly a class apart.
PRICE `7,000 onwards AT Ambawatta One Shopping Complex, Mehrauli, New Delhi