Ralph Lauren's home label makes foray into India

The label has over time become synonymous with style and craftsmanship

At a time when the idea of venturing into home décor and furnishings hadn’t even occurred to most luxury fashion houses, Ralph Lauren became a pioneer, of sorts, by launching his home label in 1983.

“I came at everything with a sense of how I would want to live,” Lauren told the Architectural Digest in a 2013 interview to mark 30 years of Ralph Lauren Home. “My wife, Ricky, and I were shopping for things for our apartment, and all the sheets were very feminine and covered in roses. I wondered, why can’t I get something masculine? So, I took the Oxford cloth we were using to make shirts, turned it into bedding, and sewed buttons down the side of the pillowcases.”

 

The label, which has over time become synonymous with style and craftsmanship, has now made its foray into India, under the aegis of Seetu Kohli Home.

Located in Ambawatta One Complex, in a 4,700 sq ft retail space, the store overlooks the historic Qutab Minar and the Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi. The setting is in sync with the other locations of Ralph Lauren Home across the world. For instance, in New York, the flagship store is located within a beautifully-restored four-storey building on Madison Avenue, which was designed to mimic the 19th century townhouses that once lined the neighbourhood. “We also wanted a building with some context and couldn’t have found a better location. The setting is classic and has a lot of character,” says Seetu Kohli, managing director, Seetu Kohli Home.

Within this space, one can view the entire Ralph Lauren Home collection, ranging from furniture and lighting, accessories, bed and bath linen, fabric and wall covering. The collections tell distinctive stories, drawing inspiration from the grandeur of an English estate, the safari, the rustic American West and Hollywood’s glitz and glamour. 

 

Especially interesting is the gift gallery, with some great ideas for the festive season. There are jewellery boxes in soft colours, alligator-embossed leather desk accessories, silverware, barware and luxury game sets. You can also choose from a range of cotton sateen, with a 624- to 800-thread count or soft white duvets and shams. 

About the signature of Ralph Lauren Home, actor and interior designer Ali Baldiwala of Mumbai-based Baldiwala Associates, says, “It’s got a neo-classical look, with a perfect blend of contemporary and the old style.” 

Baldiwala, who visited the store recently, says he also likes the new cabinet-bar collection that opens up to reveal a beautiful space within. “And also the chic, modern-looking armchairs that have been combined with these old-style fabrics,” he says.