Vinita Chaitanya & Ashiesh Shah on ‘THE POWER OF COLLABORATION'

What is so enticing about collaborations? What is so intriguing about creative minds coming together to create new design typologies, or write a new design narrative? Well, we got together with two of India's biggest names in the industry, Ashiesh Shah and Vinita Chaitanya to engage in a freewheeling conversation about their design philosophies and ethos, collaborations and the future of design in India.

- SEEMA SREEDHARAN

The year 2020 witnessed some of the most interesting, unexpected and intriguing collaborations. From Pritzker-prize winner Frank Gehry teaming up with Hennessey, to architect David Adjaye's collaboration with Aston Martin to design residences inspired by the iconic brand. In a fashion first, H&M announced their collaboration with fashion designer Sabyasachi, their debut collection with an Indian designer; Hermes unveiled its collaboration with architect Bijoy Jain at Salone Del Mobil 2021: closer home we witnessed an increasing trend of designer-brand and interdisciplinary partnerships. Fashion designers Raghavendra Rathore and Tarun Tahiliani teamed up with Obeetee, Jaipur Rugs added designer Vinita Chaitanya to their already impressive repertoire of designers, West Elm's launch in India with a capsule collection by architect Ashiesh Shah.

VINITA CHAITANYA

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Layered, complex, vibrant, eclectic, Vinita Chaitanya's spaces are a confluence of many narratives. She's unaplogetically maximalist, her love for botanicals and colours are evident in her spaces, and she's a staunch advocate of Indian craftsmanship. Chaitanya describes her style as 'contemporary classic'. a euphoric blend of sumptuous silks, traditional paisleys, exquisite Indian artefacts and modern Western covetables.