Crafts: The next big conversation in Mumbai?

There’s a new venue for Indian artisanship in South Mumbai: Gallery RooshadSHROFF

26 Mar 2025

Vivid, against the dusk-hued sky in the prime of South Mumbai glimmered the pristine Hermes window display by Rooshad Shroff. My encounter with this postcard-like wonder was a few years ago and some more years later, the word was rife about him orchestrating the symbolic ‘India in Fashion’ exhibit at NMACC (Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre) in Mumbai. For Rooshad, forces of design, objects, art, crafts, architecture co-exist within him. Which has now led him to launch Gallery RooshadSHROFF — an expansive 3,500 sq ft space in South Mumbai’s heritage precinct of Ballard Estate.

The beauty of handmade and materials at its core, the gallery inside a colonial building used to be an office in its past life, now transformed to exhibit Rooshad Shroff’s various furniture and accent lines. Think sculptural creations placed delicately amidst all-white walls imposing a quiet sense of vastness with windows on three sides, and glimpses of green tree tops and the skyline.

“If craft is to survive and flourish, we as designers have to ensure that it is continually scaled up in terms of utilisation, and that can only occur if there is an alignment with contemporary sensibilities.” — Rooshad Shroff

Photograph courtesy Gallery RooshadSHROFF

Inside, the gallery is rather serene in its visuals. Sunlight streams in from all around, while hand-laid China mosaic rests on the floors. Easy shelving displays peek through the layout, which is made as versatile and adaptable as possible with movable cantilevered walls pivoted at the columns.

He tells us, “We’ve been designing objects and furniture since 2012, so showcasing our work is always a priority, especially when you consider the limited number of design galleries within the country. Our previous space at Horniman Circle doubled as both an office and a gallery. It served as a valuable testing ground, allowing us to gauge how the concept resonated with our clientele and influenced our business.” Moving to a larger venue for Rooshad also means, expanding the ways of storytelling about the highly-skilled artisanry, crafts techniques and evolution of Indian heritage he involves in his processes.

When at the gallery, the idea is for the visitors to be able to decipher and deconstruct the intricacies and challenges of traditional artisanry. “It’s one thing to admire a design, but genuine respect for a craft and its creator comes from recognising the painstaking process and countless hours behind each piece.”

Alongside furniture and collectibles, the space will also host embroidered artworks from Lucknow’s Kalhath Institute and their Art Residency program, where Rooshad is also a member of the advisory board. “The residency invites artists from within India and around the world to work in close collaboration with our embroidery artisans as part of a three-month program,” he informs.

When asked why ‘now’ is a crucial time to be an artist in India? Rooshad admits that our country’s heritage and history of craft and artisanry is at a crucial juncture. “Generational craftsmen are giving up on their trade and turning to other avenues of income, due to paucity of work and a lack of respect towards their livelihood and skill.” He adds, “If craft is to survive and flourish, we as designers have to ensure that it is continually scaled up in terms of utilisation, and that can only occur if there is an alignment with contemporary sensibilities.”