Gauri Khan honoured to present collection at Maison&Objet

Gauri Khan, entrepreneur and wife of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, debuted at the trade show Maison&Objet in Paris with a presentation of her collection of furniture titled "Turned wood on brass" in collaboration with French designers Regis Mathieu and Jean Francoise L'Sarge.

Gauri's collection was complemented by chandeliers made of crystal produced by Regis Mathieu and a range of hand embroidered cushions by Jean Francoise L'Sarge.

The show was held between January 22-26 , 2016. Her collection was displayed on all the five days of the show.

"Maison&Objet is a leading platform for the best in global design and creativity. I am honoured to have been invited to present my collection here and to collaborate with immensely talented French designers like Jean Francoise and Regis Mathieu," Gauri said in a statement.

Her collection had two sources of inspiration. The first being the work of craftsmen from the eastern region of Gujarat who are proficient in the art of "Sankhedu" (Gujarati name for a turning lathe). The traditional art has been practiced by 80 to 100 families in the area, who have been hand painting furniture made of turned wood since 1855.

The collection also draws inspiration from the work of Indian designer Avni Sejpal of Studio Avni who uses materials like cork and rubber to make unique light fittings.

Each piece of furniture in the collection comes with its own narrative and history.

"India has a very rich heritage in craft and France has a legacy as a design hub. The collaboration of cultures and traditions has been exciting. I would like to do more to bring traditional Indian craft to the fore internationally," the 45-year-old said.