Threads Of Inspired Personalization

In designing the interiors for Indigo Lab, an innovative denim research and design studio in Bangalore, the Made in Earth Collective drew inspiration from the story of the material, the textures of the fabric, and a personalized material palette that puts the spotlight back on the denims on display, rather than on the natural, neutral interior design itself.

- Sharmila Chakravorty

As the fabric of hard honest work, rebellion, comfort, fashion, and other expressions open to personal interpretation, the humble denim is a wardrobe staple for most of us. But in recent times, production processes involved in creating our favorite pair of jeans and their environmental impact have brought the fabric under the scanner; perhaps much more than advancements and innovation in the actual material. Breaking away from this narrative, Shell Apparels Pvt Ltd, Bangalore wanted to create a natural denim lab that not only highlights the state-of-the-art facilities for their sustainable denim production practices, but also inspires users and denim designers alike to imagine and appreciate innovations.

The architects in charge of creating this space, the Made in Earth Collective, were set to the task of designing the interiors of the Indigo Lab, with extensive research on natural building techniques together with denim factory by-products to create a rather personalized material palette that would render itself to a rather comfortingly stark studio space for textile designers from around the globe to collaborate, ideate and innovate.

As a response to this design briefs, the architects looked at the story of the denim fabric. They drew inspiration from the fabric’s sense of timelessness given its relatability and evolving influence over centuries.