BEHIND THE BEST DRESSED HOMES

These 10 design houses use textiles like a magic wand to transform the dullest of spaces. We are talking about organic cotton linen, hue-heavy ikats, graphic prints, detailed embroidery and wispy curtains like you’ve never seen before.

Stories play a significant part in Toile Indienne founders Akila Seshasayee and Pankaj Kehr’s lives. Launched in September 2017, their textiles play with texture, fabric and colour. Seshasayee says that design conversations are the brand’s DNA. “We would talk about design for years, before we finally adapted and translated our vision into Toile Indienne,” says the graphic designer. In 1664 the French East India Company brought colourful printed cotton toile (cloth) known as indiennes, from India into France. “These fabrics were so popular that the word indiennes entered the French language, referring not only to the cloth but to garments made from it,” says Kehr, who had initially got Seshasayee on board to design the packaging of surgical equipments, his family business.

NEW INDIA When we talk about Indian designs, it usually means kitsch or Jaipur bootis. The image of India is stuck somewhere between the two despite having a glorious tradition of textiles. “Our extensive research led us to write the stories behind each of our collections. For instance, the Love and War collection features the reimagination of Draupadi’s marriage as a central theme,” says Kehr.

PILLOW TALK “We didn’t only want to do surface prettiness,” says Seshasayee, adding, “All of our collections are mythologically or historically relevant.” Currently the duo is focused on cushions and throw pillows.

PRICE `2,900 to `4,500