Love retail therapy? 13 fashion stores in India and Dubai will treat you to luxury, leisure and all things in between

Art meets luxury. Craftsmanship meets curiosity. Fashion meets storytelling. The newest crop of fashion and design stores in India are many steps beyond the indulgent concept of retail therapy. You go for the ensembles but stay for its interiors and the decorative details. Sounds fair?

ELLE DECOR India assembles a list of stunning fashion and design stores in India. From artistic details to statement structures, each store is a remarkable exploration of design, culture and innovation. 

1. Aanchal Vijaywargi, Hyderabad
For Aanchal Vijaywargi’s chic women’s wear brand, the architects at NaaV Studio have executed a clever design that borrows from a Sanskrit word, eklaap — translating to monologue. In similar spirits, the design plays witfully with a monochrome palette and minimalistic design sensibilities. Lime-plastered walls and terrazzo flooring accompanied by glass panelling, add to the delicate aesthetic of the boutique.

2. Abraham & Thakore, Delhi 
A collaborative design with Studio Organon, the flagship store in Delhi measures a grand 2,000 sq ft of novelty, honouring the brand’s new narrative for Indian couture. The space exudes sophistication with a palette of neutral tones and marble detailing, embodying their vision for modern luxury.

3. Adityavardhan, Mumbai 
Spanning 500 sq ft, the menswear store in Mumbai is carefully designed to reflect Adityavardhan’s refined taste and sophistication. FN Design Studio and Shiraz Jamali Architects’ design welcomes patrons with an elegant arched storefront, clean lines and muted colours define the ambience, allowing the ornate garments to take centre stage.

4. Araya, Dubai 
Resting within Dubai’s esteemed Almas Tower, the luxurious fine jewellery store showcases a spatial masterpiece envisioned by Aashni Kumar. Its minimalist open layout, accentuated by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows creates a stunning visual experience. Artistic display cases command attention with their striking design.

5. CrepDog Crew (CDC), Mumbai
With India’s growing interest in sneaker culture, Anchit Kapil, Bharat Mehrotra and Shaurya Kumar teamed up to shape CrepDog Crew (CDC), a sneaker haven of its kind. The store aptly embodies the brand identity with a curious range of furniture bursting into neon hues. CDC in Mumbai is envisioned such to resemble a Scandinavian art gallery, bringing forth designers as artists and their kicks as art. When visiting the Mumbai store, gaze at their sneaker wall that measures a staggering 58 ft by 12 ft.

6. Dharki, Mumbai
Dharki, a renowned couture brand celebrating handloom textiles, is now housed in the multi-designer store Mélange. Situated in South Mumbai, the Mélange store is a charming historical building, ageing over 100 years, skillfully repurposed by Sangita Kathiwada in the late 90’s. The store is inspired by Sangita’s nani’s cupboards from the haveli where she spent her childhood in central India. Apart from being a visual delight, the cabinetry is a faithful reflection of the rich cultural tradition of weaving in India.

7. Ecstasy, Mumbai
Ecstasy opens its door to the mystic world of Italian embroidery with a store in Mumbai. Covering 1,850 sq ft, Aum Architects crafts an astute design direction with stainless steel displays suspended in an inky backdrop of bold and dark hues, captivating the visitors. The space makes an exquisite use of mirrors, adding to the enchanting narrative of the store.

8. Hermès, Mumbai 
The iconic luxury fashion house Hermès has opened its second store at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai. Parisian architecture firm RDAI realised a subtle yet sumptuous design in a dynamic fusion of orange, beige and tinges of other colours perfectly capturing the spirit of the city. An enchanting window installation poses at the front, too, curated by Indian production designer and filmmaker Aradhana Seth, inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s Gond art and various visual references to Hermès’ history.

9. Jayanti Reddy, Mumbai 
With meticulous attention to detail and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, Jayanti Reddy’s brand reflects a timeless elegance infused with contemporary sensibilities. The new Jayanti Reddy store in Mumbai is a creative reimagination of a century-old structure that once housed heavy machinery. With a muted colour palette and many wooden features that have been meticulously restored, Mouna Reddy’s design preciously maintains the old-world charm that adds to the store’s rich earthiness.

10. JJ Valaya-Kapurthala, Delhi
The all-new opening of JJ Valaya-Kapurthala (JJV) in the ever-teeming Dhan Mill compound in New Delhi celebrates the legacy of the regal couture that the master designer JJ Valaya has been crafting for decades. Drawing inspiration from the rich history and cultural heritage of Kapurthala, a princely state in Punjab, the store is designed by Valaya Home blending modern and maximalist elements. In bold charcoal hues, the storefront wears the signature chevron pattern of shifting leaves. While inside the flagship store, the interiors exhibit bespoke carpets, terrazzo floors, grand chandeliers and Valaya’s travel photography on the walls, painting a fitting representation for the label.

11. Kawaakari, Ahmedabad 
Rupali’s Kawaakari specialises in handcrafted luxury accessories and intricately woven women’s clothing. With gracious curves and a burgundy-themed store, Verizon Architects’ Akhil Gajjar, Ravi Pipalia and Yash Vachhani embrace the brand’s style statement with grace through their design. A central mushroom column stands out amidst the soft utopian ambience with hues of burgundy bringing it all together.

12. Zariin, New Delhi 
Anjali Aggarwal, Founder-Principal Architect of Karigar Design Studio makes intelligent use of a 250 sq ft architecturally fascinating space to showcase Zariin’s enigmatic jewellery pieces. Arched windows, a subdued colour palette with easy yellows and greens outside are all a part of her brilliant design scheme to breathe an air of sophistication into the store. “The strategic placement of the skylight over an already existing tree in the centre is a nod to ancient monuments, where nature intertwines with architecture,” she sums up.

13. Zwaan, New Delhi
Founded by Tanvi Sawlani, Zwaan’s creations are a retelling of the modern values of empowerment and femininity. Envisioned by Designer and Engineer Eshita Marwah of her practice /e the abstraction of female figures across various elements emerge at the flagship store in Dhan Mill, New Delhi as a celebration of curves. Mellow tones and an open plan that allows intuitive wayfinding create an immersive experience.

Loved the fashion and design stores in India? Now read: Hermès meets Gond art at its new Mumbai store’s window display by Aradhana Seth