New address, old designs

Anupama Dayal is creating awareness about Delhi’s heritage at her newly launched store

May 13, 2015 04:37 pm | Updated 04:37 pm IST

Anupama Dayal

Anupama Dayal

As heritage plays a significant role in her scheme of things, designer Anupama Dayal is showcasing her Jamali Kamali collection, inspired by the architecture of the Lodhi era monument, at her newly launched store at Khan Market.

“As a designer I relate to heritage sites in Delhi including Humayun’s Tomb and Qutb Minar. The unique exquisite architecture of the Mughal era has inspired me to create designs on fabric. This collection symbolises Sufism, which I relate to on a personal level. Pacifism is the need of the hour these days.”

Pointing out that Jamali was an iconic saint and Kamali one of his later day disciples, the designer says the Jamali Kamali story is an old fascinating one and passed down faithfully from one generation to another. “It is known to be the abode of many djinns and spirits. An ode to the city I live in and an attempt to embrace all its living history. Not many people are aware that it is our rich heritage preserved in monuments and forts like the Red Fort which attracts foreigners. So here I am telling them about the heritage sites existing in Delhi.”

Most monuments in Delhi are made of sandstone and in this collection the colours including red, ochre and even shades of pale blue have been inspired by sandstone. To acclimatise foreigners about monuments, Anupama has installed mirror shaped wall hangings symbolising historical structures at the entrance. “Delhi has world-class architecture and is an international city.”

As a self confessed heritage lover, Anupama has been having fun as she could pursue her hobby of exploring monuments of the city while seeking inspiration for her work. “One can explore so much within the city. So in a way this collection would enlighten people, especially foreigners, about the kind of craftsmanship patronised by the Mughal rulers. To tell multilayered stories I have drawn inspiration from flowers of Islamic graphics, Mughal gardens and wooden blocks.”

Interest in monuments developed gradually. “As my father was from the Armed Forces, I grew up on the foothills of Himalayas. I grew up in Kashmir and other States where the Himalayas pass through. With their flora, fauna and rich architecture these places played a part in my evolution as a designer. I recently visited the Valley and it was a trip down the memory lane for me.”

While Anupama’s first store at Khan Market was for the Indian clientele, this store has been conceptualised in a way to lure foreigners, who want the best available in India.

“This store is a window to India as it acclimatises them about the Capital’s rich heritage and diversity as far as arts is concerned.”

For any designer worth his salt it is his or her creation which lures customers. But in these days of market-oriented consumerism, where packaging plays as much part as content, it is the address which plays a pivotal role in deciding how many footfalls a designer gets on any given day.

This is the reason why Anupama opened her second store at the South Delhi market even though her contemporaries including leading couturiers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal and J. J. Valaya have opened their stores in Defence Colony.

Noting that Khan Market was also the best available option for her, Anupama says it is one of the most favoured destinations of high end foreign clientele. “It is a favourite haunt of European and American travellers and I am not referring to backpackers but luxury travellers who want the best India has to offer whether it if fashion, food and foreign stuff.”

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