Pretty in Pink

Akari Studio pulls out all the creative stops to design an office for a Mumbai-based lingerie start-up, Pretty Secrets, that is truly connected with the brand ideology — fun, young and sexy; yet practical, productive and passionate about work.

- Rupali Sebastian

Creating a ‘space’, is all about collaborations. Between the designer and various consultants or agencies. Between the client and the designer. And when there is a certain empathetic rapport between the latter two, the process of creation, becomes more productive, enjoyable, satisfying…

Interior designer Niyoshi Sanghvi — she calls herself a design start-up as she set up her Akari Studio just about a year ago — understood the apprehensions and concerns of lingerie start-up Pretty Secrets, when it came to setting up office in Mumbai’s upscale BKC area: it needed maximum bang for its buck. “We were introduced through word of mouth and then we helped them design a pop-up retail event that they hosted for three days. Through this process, we enjoyed a great creative bond that then led us to design their current office,” reveals Niyoshi, who has cut her design teeth by working with architect Ajit Shilpi. “One of the biggest challenges we face in a commercial project is the tough balance between achieving great design in a tight budget. And while working with start-ups is very exciting as they are open to the bold, innovative ideas, they want to spend their investor-backed money frugally.”