Sabyasachi Mukherjee has opened his first bridal salon in the City of Joy. With all the success the designer has in the country and abroad, one would imagine his first signature store would live up to the expectations of an upmarket location, a grand entrance, brand new look, plush interiors, rare wall hangings, and a splash of colour. But Sabya?s store defies all of this.
The 2,500 ft2 spacious store has Mukherjee written all over. Located at Topsia, known more for small-scale industry and far from the city centre, one would find it hard to reach as there are no sign boards. A narrow lane and a unmetalled road take you to a dead end, infront of a modest white-washed two-storey building with just a door as a gatekeeper. But once that door opens, all doubts evaporate. ?It was one of my tailoring units and provided me the space I wanted for my salon. Factory outlets all over the world are located at far off places and have the most exclusive stuff. It is something like that,? says Mukherjee.
He wanted the place to be a seamless box so the walls, ceiling and the floor are all in grey. The old-world charm with a high ceiling, 1940s and 50s pictures, antique furniture is well accentuated. ?There is lot of opulence attached to weddings, but I wanted my salon to be simple. The space provides the grandeur,? quips Mukherjee, who has himself designed the store. Entering the store, the first thing that you see is you in the huge life size antique mirror. A small passage, which has a slim 4-seater Jacobean suite, opens up where nine mannequins are draped in sherwanis, lehengas, saris and yes the signature Sabya turban. The bathroom has black & white pictures of actors and commoners together. ?I have always been attracted to the old world rustic feel and that?s what is reflected in the store,? explains Sabya. The store has a lot of khadi, Banarasi, velvet and tweed in black, aubergine and burgundy. The designer also adds the bridal market is big whether it?s Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata.
In November, Sabya?s general store is coming up in Kolkata and in 2010, stores will be coming up in Delhi and Mumbai. ?The downturn has not affected me at all; in fact we have witnessed a 40% growth as I made corrections in price. People don?t stop buying because of recession. There are opportunities, one has to find them,? says the designer.