Known for their monochromes and minimal magic, veteran fashion designer duo David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore have now launched their homeware collection in India. Made up of black, ivory, clove and beige, the beautiful line reflects contemporary aesthetics. The designers chatted with The Telegraph on the collection.
Congratulations on a stunning collection! What was your starting point for the range?
We launched Abraham & Thakore nearly 30 years ago with a collection of loungewear at The Conran Shop in London. From there we rapidly added home textiles such as bedcovers, bed linen, cushions and throws to the collection, which retailed in London, Paris and Tokyo. When we shifted our focus to the domestic market we focused on fashion and discontinued the home collection. We feel the time is right now to launch the complete homeware collection here and expand it to include tableware too.
It’s a seamless blend of aesthetics. How did you approach this new design category?
The homeware collection is a celebration of individuality, a reiteration of Indian craft and the time taken to administer the painstaking task of tying warp and weft and weaving it to create ikat patterns. Functioning on a design aesthetic that is deeply entrenched in the yin and yang tenets of marrying polarities, we have played on these strengths and come up with a collection that pursues the same design language. Keeping in tune with the minimalistic yet luxurious design philosophy of the brand, a neutral colour palette of black, ivory, clove and beige has been explored, owing to its easy, adaptive nature in most homes. The minimal aesthetics reflect our design philosophy. Elegant solutions that serve daily living. The handcrafted product employs techniques like kantha and patchwork.
Who is this collection for?
We are always inspired by traditional Indian textiles which have such a rich design vocabulary, but we also look at the world around us, at the constant evolution of design movements globally to create a fresh context. This collection is aimed at a customer who is modern and somewhat minimal in state, yet looks for a contemporary expression of tradition.
Abraham & Thakore’s new homeware range
How are homes changing now according to you?
Our homes are now a reflection of our identities. As we decorate our new homes, we search for designs that reflect our very individual sense of aesthetics. Our interiors must reflect our taste.
What do your homes look like?
Our homes have collections of objects, furniture and textiles that we have collected over the years. Every piece tells a story of a particular moment in time and in many ways, our homes reflect the journey of our lives.
With living and work spaces overlapping post-pandemic, how is the concept of essentials changing?
We need to make most spaces multifunctional. A room can sometimes serve as both a dining room and a workplace depending on need. We also need to design spaces that envelope us and cocoon us from the outside world.
What are the new additions to your home?
We are collectors of antique kilims and carpets and there is always a new one in our home.
What is the one item that defines you from the range?
The cushions in opulent silk, velvet, cotton and printed marble and stoneware plates and bowls are our favourite pieces from the collection. We are extremely satisfied with how the collection came out; however, the Nazar marble cheese platter inlaid with circles in mother-of-pearl is an absolutely stunning creation that combines art and craft in a beautiful way. The piece which is inlaid with black dots just has one red dot, bringing forth the age-old notion of a disruption in the pattern, which wards off evil.
Tell us about the most beautiful homes you have seen...
Too many to list here but in brief, they range from a friend’s country home in Finland that originally housed farmworkers who cooked and wove textiles. She had kept the old handloom and the original furniture with the candelabra and it had an amazing sense of authenticity and history. Recently another friend has completely renovated a 200-year-old house in Goa keeping the original tiles and structural features such as wooden beams and ceiling heights yet blending in luxurious elements like an infinity pool that looks over acres of green fields.
What is your vision for the future of the home range?
We would like to see the A&T Collection in many homes! We have also been collaborating with Obeetee, which has successfully launched two collections of Abraham & Thakore carpets. We hope to expand our offering as we go along and add other products in the future.