Isprava gang spread

01 THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com
I
ndia is booming.We are
becoming richer, smarter, faster,
bigger and better.We have a new
generation of digital natives who
are more discerning and more
demanding. Putting it all into
perspective, India’s current per
capita GDP is ~USD 2000, which is one
fourth of Thailand and China.This means
a disproportionate amount will get spent
on luxury, leisure and travel over the next
10 years.This also means there will be a
larger, ever-growing pool of sophisticated
individuals with discerning tastes,
preferences and higher expectations.
Finally, this will lead to a natural selection
where players with substandard products
and services will not survive.
At Isprava, we have and will always
continue to focus on being far ahead
of the curve. Even today, we see trends
in the real estate sector with our elite
guests, where timely delivery is no longer
enough. Homes have to be at par or
better than anywhere else in the world.
We believe that our relationship with our
clients involves servicing them through
the course of their journey with us and
beyond.Therefore besides just delivering
a beautiful home, we even manage,
maintain and provide post sale services
and rental management to all our clients.
And hence, hospitality is another key area
of opportunity.Travellers now demand
privacy, uniqueness, experiential and local
stays over run of the mill ones, opening up
whole new sectors.These exciting times
inspire us to create and curate one-of-a-
kind experiences. It drives us to push our
own boundaries, adapt to new trends and
create our own along the way.
This second edition of the Isprava
Insider is going to inspire you to travel
the world.You will come across varied
stories in this issue—connecting food,
travel, architecture and design. And it
brings together some great inﬂuencers
from Ashiesh Shah on Wabi Sabi to a
special article written by Mukund Rajan
on sustainable living; from Pooja Dhingra’s
take on the best food trips of 2019, to an
illustrative story on a food trail through
Japan. It even has a story on the coolest
things to do during Milan Design Week
straight from Isprava’s Interior Designers.
This issue is fully loaded. And I am certain
it will inspire. So take some time out and
enjoy a little magic from each destination,
home and experience, you read about.
Happy reading!
Nibhrant Shah
Founder and CEO of Isprava
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ISPRAVA
AND INSTAGRAM @ISPRAVA OR
EMAIL US AT INFO@ISPRAVA.COM

{contributors}
WHO: KINJAL VORA
WHAT THEY DO: Freelance
Lifestyle Writer
NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION:
Being a writer makes the world
my oyster. It continually inspires
the holidays on my wish list. And
the next one is Iceland! I love
the cold weather and mountains,
and Iceland just seems so exotic
on glossy magazine paper or
Instagram, I definitely want to
experience it in real life.
Our favourite people and the
ones who helped shape this
issue into a true page turner:
on what’s next on their holiday
hotlist...
WHO: GIANFRANCESCO PERRONE
WHAT THEY DO: General Manager,
Isprava
NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION: At
Isprava, we are always on the quest
of amazing travel experiences, and
being from Sicily, the first place that
comes to mind for a holiday hideaway
is Salina. It is a beautiful island in the
Aeolian archipelago that has all that
you can dream of. Turquoise sea,
locally produced wine called Malvasia,
a dormant volcano to climb, and
amazing food!
WHO: KAMINI GILL
WHAT THEY DO: Head
of Portfolio Development,
Isprava
NEXT HOLIDAY
DESTINATION: Japan,
because of the country’s
culture, tradition, food and
beauty, all of which are so
refined, subtle and unique!
WHO: TARANA SHETH SABHARWAL
WHAT THEY DO: Creative Head,
Isprava
NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION:
Rovaniemi in Finland! I can lie back
and watch the Northern Lights in the
comfort of my glass igloo while my
little daughter explores the official
Santa Claus Village. Bliss!
WHO: TIA PARANJAPE
WHAT THEY DO: Associate Director, StyleCracker
NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Apart from my day job, I love
to read, write, paint and travel. And the next hotspot I have on
my list is Rome, Italy! I’ve never been there, but I just know I
am going to love it! I’m going there for my honeymoon, so that
makes it even more exciting.
1 CEO’S NOTE
2 CONTRIBUTORS
IN FASHION + DESIGN
4 A story of the late fashion
legend, Karl Lagerfeld, who also
left behind an architectural legacy
of his own
6 All the things to love at the
world’s biggest design fair—Milan
Design Week 2019—by Isprava’s
interior designers
12 StyleCracker’s co-founder
fills us in on the coolest trends to
spruce up your interiors
14 Catching up with Isprava’s
friend, Adil Ahmad on his work
and design philosophies
19 When the two worlds of
jewellery and architecture collide
20 Chandigarh’s fashion designer
extraordinaire decodes the art of
bespoke apparel
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
22 From the most luxe yachts in
the world to a new aviation start
up taking off in India; From Qatar’s
National Museum opening its
doors to the public, to the colour
of the year, find out what’s making
headlines all around the world
this year
IN CONVERSATION
26 Isprava’s Gleneagle Estate’s
owner, authors an article on one of
the biggest issues of the moment—
Sustainability
32 The art of Wabi Sabi from one
of the best in the industry
38 A cause from the heart with a
strive to do good for one and all
IN ISPRAVA’S WORLD
44 A peek inside Isprava’s
beautiful Albany Cottage, a villa
that awaits your arrival!
IN TECHNOLOGY
60 Uncovering the super evolving
world of technology
IN ENTERTAINMENT
62 How to host a luxe party and
the biggest events of 2020 that will
inspire you to travel everywhere!
IN FOOD + TRAVEL
66 Founder of everyone’s favourite,
The Table, Gauri Devidayal on how
she found her calling
68 Spanish chef Natalia tempts us
with local delicacies from Goa
(Just one of the many reasons to go
to Goa today!)
70 Dessert queen Pooja Dhingra
cues us in on the best food trips to
indulge in
72 Do Alibaug in style, with
Isprava of course!
74 How this boutique owner
ditched the city life and let all her
dreams come true, in Goa
76 Japan’s culinary adventures and
inimitable culture seen through
the eyes and experiences of an
illustrator
IN COLLECTION
80 Top 10 picks from the realms of
luxury, travel and beauty
81 From the adventure they love
most to the cuisine they travel for,
here’s a list of favourites from our
favourites
84 The memories at an Isprava
home are always timeless. Here’s
what our guests have to say...
{contents}
The view from Albany
Cottage, Coonoor; Pg 44
On Cover: Albany
Cottage, Coonoor
THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com 03

IN{fashion+design}
KEEPING UP WITH THE TRENDS
IN TRIBUTE to
KARL LAGERFELDFrom reviving Chanel as its new creative director to weaving an
architectural legacy of his own. Remembering the late fashion
mogul, Karl Lagerfeld, and how he crafted his own legendary
career fusing his varied interests
H
e died at the age of 85.
But lived a prolific life,
leaving behind a legacy
that’s only designed to
inspire. Karl Lagerfeld
was a legendary man –
known for his eccentric
style, his signature white hair, his eye for rein-
vention and myriad passions. As one of fash-
ion’s favourite enigmas, everyone knew that
his day job as a famous couturier involved dol-
ing out collection after collection for Chanel,
Fendi and his own eponymous label. But what
many may not have known is how he managed
to concoct an entire portfolio of admired mini
careers, and stretch his genius to varied ave-
nues including interior designing. From pho-
tography to publishing, from being a stylist,
illustrator, gallerist, director, curator, costume
designer, an adventurous collector, thrilling
decorator and even a conjurer of fine tableware
and luxe furnishings—there was very little that
Karl Lagerfeld couldn’t do, if at all. He was a
relentless visionary, who shocked and delight-
ed the world over the course of his long and
illustrious career.
And while his strides in fashion have al-
ways been well documented, and applauded,
there were spurts of his magic in the realms
of interiors and architecture that were equal-
ly awe-inspiring. Like how his imagination
came to life when he redesigned the pool of
Monaco’s Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, which
featured a constellation of lights for the pool
floor. Or when he was a part of the skilful ren-
Clockwise:
Karl Lagerfeld
Germany boutique;
Karl on the ramp at
the Paris Fashion
Week; Karl playing
photographer; Hotel
de Crillon, Paris; a
magazine feature on
Karl in his younger
days
ovation of one of Paris’ most prestigious pal-
aces, Hotel de Crillon. Here he designed two
breathtaking apartments, creating one of the
most lavish quarters in the French capital.The
bathroom featured a two-ton bathtub carved
from a single block of Carrera marble, show-
casing classic elegance at its best. He even de-
signed the lobbies of The Estates at Acqualina
in Miami Beach, drawing inspiration from a
traditional Roman piazza. This project put his
love for photography in the spotlight as well.
You will notice photographs taken by Lager-
feld himself of Roman fountains and arches
etched into the lobby’s large wall panels, ceil-
ing screens and skylights.According to him the
lobby spaces played a dual purpose—it is the
first impression of the building and it serves
as a space for socializing. Beyond hotels and
spaces, Lagerfeld even designed an art collec-
tion of functional sculptures for an exhibition
called Architectures, which evoked a contem-
porary architectural landscape with Greek
origins. Available as a limited edition of eight
pieces, each was carved from a carefully select-
ed marble block—the black Nero Marquina
marble, curated for its brush stroke-like milky
white veins. From tables to mirrors, lamps to
fountains, each piece of art embodied Lager-
feld’s timeless monochromatic style, and was
precisely cut, sculpted, faceted and polished in
Italy by local craftsmen.
All we can say to Karl is thank you. Thank
you for never forgetting to awe and inspire.
Your legacy will always be remembered—as a
designer, and an endless visionary.

IN{fashion+design}
06 THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com 07
Fashion, food, fairs... Milan never ceases to fascinate. Here’s
everything you need to know on what to do, see, love and eat
in Milan, during the world’s biggest design fair—Milan Design
Week 2019, straight from the hearts and minds of two of Isprava’s
interior designers
M
ilan, Italy’s fashion,
finance and design
capital, much like
New York or Paris has
the zip, bounce and
vibrancy of a great
cosmopolitan city. It’s
a destination that knows how to do everything
in style. From fashion weeks and food festivals
to sophisticated storefronts that lineVia Monte
Napoleone and Via della Spiga. There are de-
signer hotels like the Bulgari and Armani and
many cultural treasures too—we love the ma-
jestic Teatro alla Scala opera house, the Gothic
cathedral and of course, Leonardo da Vinci’s
15th century masterpiece, “The Last Supper”.
It’s also got an exploding restaurant scene
complete with many old favourites and fresh
new surprises. But the one relentless magnet
that pulls Isprava to Milan every year is the
buzzy annual Milan Design Week and its in-
ternational furniture fair. It’s much more than
an ordinary industry convention.Think of it as
the Paris Fashion Week of the design world.
And expect a huge, glamour-filled week with
interesting things to do and beautiful things to
fall in love with—like 3D constructed lamps,
modernist couches, sleek kitchen ware, new
technologies, home automation and so much
more.The magnitude: more than 1300 vendors
and 150,000 square feet of exhibition space, not
including all the other fairs and venues it en-
compasses. We give you an insider’s peek on
what our resident interior designers saw, loved
and did during this year’s Milan Design Week.
It’s time to get inspired!!
MILAN,
DESIGNED FOR you
WHAT:
MILAN DESIGN WEEK
WHEN:
APRIL, 2019
WHO:
SARAH SHAM
AND SHONALI MAHAJAN
The best installations this year:
Terrazzo—but this year it arrived with a twist.
Note Design Studio teamed up with French
manufacturer Tarkett on an installation of
geometric totem poles that look like terrazzo
sculptures, but are
really a new materi-
al called iQ Surface.
This amazing, du-
rable product can
cover any manner of
curves and angles,
and it can be con-
tinuously recycled.
It promises function,
form and expression of colour.The objects that
were showcased came in a chic, moody colour
palette of rust, grey, cream and navy. Perfect →
On left side: Euroluce
lighting installation
Below: Tarkett Note
Design Studio Magis
formations

IN{fashion+design}
for a new generation of design application on
multiple surfaces like walls, furniture as well as
floors, place it in a designer’s hands, and mag-
ic will happen—a release of unlimited creative
potential. iQ was definitely a stand-out, and it
even inspired Isprava to learn more about the
product and find ways to incorporate the iQ
Surface for its own spaces.
Minotti, a larger-than-life installation that
was really incredible. We witnessed some of
the most beautiful furniture all housed in a
massive glass structure. The sofas and chair
lounges from Japanese studio, Nendo were the
highlight! Another great one was India-based
Scarlet Splendour who had a fantastic stall in
which they collaborated with Matteo Cibic on
a new range of furniture that was extremely
whimsical and very interesting.
VVV by Vandont for DCW Editions was
another stunner. We loved the curtain light
installation by Design Academy Eindhoven
graduates—Esther Jongsma and Sam van
Gurp.Their design was first presented in 2017,
and now two years later, French brand DCW
Editions has put it into production.The design
celebrates traditional mechanics. Its modular
style allows you to create a wall of light that fits
your space. It is a great illumination alternative
to ordinary ceiling spot lights that most spaces
use today.
Flexform launched a new furniture line that
had a focus on the use of different materials.
While Fantoni had a fantastic range of office
furniture that redefined the entire way you
perceive furniture at the workplace. And Flos
had a stunning grid-like structure of lights
that was true to its brand ideology of clean and
simple, but supremely effective. All three of
these installations were impressive in their
own unique way.
The next crowd puller was Tom Dix-
on’s restaurant—The Manzoni—where
everything was for sale. This display
brought elements of food and design to-
gether, and it was a great cultural activity
as well as a hobby for many.The concept was:
try before you buy, where you can experience
the products within the context of hospitality
and then buy whatever you enjoyed the most!
Suffice to say, Isprava enjoyed a lot!
A great collaboration to witness was Gior-
getti with designers Ludovica and Roberto →
Above: Tarkett Note
Design Studio
SHONALI M
A
HAJAN
Clockwise from top
left: Bodies in Motion
at Humanscale; The
Swarovski exhibit at
Euroluce; An installation
at the Duomo made by
Gaetano Pesce; The
Manzoni

IN{fashion+design}
Palomba, who together launched the Loop
Armchair. It is a small outdoor armchair that
is born from the intersection of pure geomet-
ric shapes, refined by soft elements. The sur-
faces play on materials like the technological
EVA—a waterproof polymer, creating very un-
expected tactile sensations. It is also composed
of ash wood and aluminium, and available in
two heights.
The Bodies in Motion party co-hosted by
Dezeen and Humanscale, an office furniture
brand, was an event organised to celebrate this
installation. It is a moving sculpture made from
15 beams of light that respond to and mimic
the viewers movements. This interactive light
sculpture designed by New York-based Todd
Bracher aimed to capture the feeling of human
movement in its most essential and natural
form. The installation was influenced by the
research of Swedish scientist Gunnar Johans-
son, who investigated motion perception in the
1970s. He explored the idea that our brain is
hard-wired to recognise the human figure with
even the slightest bit of information. So even
with just three points moving to a certain for-
mation, you will understand that this is a hu-
man arm moving. Or with 15 points, you will
decipher that it is a human figure walking.
So fascinating!
Some of our favourite brand displays
from this year were COS, Versace, Guc-
ci, BDDW, Kvadrat and Louis Vuitton!
Swarovski in Euroluce—the light fair—
was simply fantastic. It featured lights that
were all cast in crystal and had haptic touch
sensor on top of them, which responded to the
lightest touch and went dimmer or brighter
basis how hard you pressed the crystals. They
also had an interactive installation of a mas-
sive chandelier that had a variety of bulbs that
could be pulled up or down, depending on
how you wanted the chandelier to look. Out-
side Rho Fiera, there were some incredible in-
stallations worth the while as well. One of our
favourites was at Fondazione Prada—a mas-
sive gold leafed building which houses some
of the most unique art.The highlight here was
the sensory deprivation chamber which was
so black that one could not see their hand in
front of them as they walked through it. It was Below: The Manzoni
SARAH
S
HAM
a long, black passage that went on for about a
hundred meters, and felt extremely disorient-
ing.At the end of the long tunnel was an instal-
lation of upside down rotating mushrooms in
psychedelic colours, sending your senses for a
complete spin. Finally, don’t miss the installa-
tions in Fuorisalone and Salone Satellite—this
is where true innovation and design ideas are
explored. This is where the limits are pushed
and boundaries between the various schools of
design are brought together intended to blow
your mind, and make you stop and think.
Just some of the other things to do in
Milan:
This list can be endless. But whatever little
time you get before, in between or after the
fairs and exhibitions, you must use to experi-
ence the many other hidden gems of the city.
As a former resident of Milan, one thing Sho-
nali loves about the place are the parks. For
instance, you can easily spend hours at Par-
co Sempione without even realising the time
flying by. For some more exposure on design,
visit theTriennale Design Museum—brimming
with endless installations from brilliant minds
all over the world, as well as a magnificent
media library on design, art and architecture.
The Milano fashion tour is another must-do,
which will take you inside the hidden ateliers
and showrooms of Milan.Take a picture at the
beautiful 18th century Palazzo Morando, before
indulging in one of the best shopping experi-
ences in the world, at Antonia.
Design centric restaurants and bars to
visit:
Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada, Hotel Straf,
Cafe Cafezal, Carlo e Camilla, Paper Moon for
really amazing Italian food, Cafe Corso Como
12, Eataly, Spazio Rossana Orlandi. Never miss
a good Negroni—Bar Basso—the birthplace of
the Negroni is a must go. Go to Obica Mozza-
rella Bar, an Italian restaurant and pizzeria at
the Food Hall 7th floor of Rinascente to wit-
ness a beautiful sunset over delicious cheesy
things.At night, after you’re done attending all
the brand parties from the fair, flock to Terraz-
za Duomo 21—a terrace bar with a view of the
Duomo cathedral to enjoy Milan from the top.
On your last day, have aperitivo on the Navigli.
The desserts to die for:
Have everything sweet. Profiteroles, Tiramisu,
Panacotta and Gianduja gelato from Cioccolati
Italiani. But for the best gelato ever, there is a
hole in the wall place called Gelateria Musica
on Via Pestalozzi. Below: Parco Sempione

IN{fashion+design}
StyleCracker’s
Archana Walavalkar
gives Isprava a low
down on all things
stylish, trending and
smart in the world
of interior design
and home decor for
the season
TRENDSPOTTING
with ARCHANA
WALAVALKAR
W
hen it comes
to style, it’s
no secret that
Archana Wala-
valkar is a skip
ahead of the
rest. This for-
mer Vogue Fashion Editor went from being a
celebrity style expert to the stylist to every Indi-
an. Her fashion and tech venture,StyleCracker
has transformed the way people not only dress
on a daily basis, but the way they perceive fash-
ion. From its AI-based solutions to person-
alised StyleCracker boxes, from a fully loaded
blog to night markets and bazaars known to
attract tens of thousands of shoppers—Wala-
valkar has managed to provide access to new
looks, quality clothes and relevant fashion in-
tel for everyone from the seasoned style ma-
ven to the uninitiated. She, in more ways than
one, is a game changer in the world of style,
and usually has the last word on the best new
trends. So who better than to ask Archana her-
self on what’s new, cool and interesting in the
world of home decor and interior designing.
Here we go...
Home decor trends Archana
swears by....
1. A sustainable approach: Al-
ways ask the three questions:
Who are you purchasing from?
What values do they stand for?
What materials are being used?
2. Soft geometry in furniture:
Try moving away from straight,
rigid furniture lines
3. A highlight piece: Pick one
with a gravity defying shape!
4. Natural organic materials:
Think locally sourced prod-
ucts, customised for you and handcrafted to
perfection
5.All about the planters: Shop them in all sizes
to add a wave of freshness to your interiors
6. Maximalist art: Go for lots of bold colours,
patterns, textures, layers, repetition, contrasts,
intricacies, luxe materials and ornamentation
7. Colour: Pretty tones. My top picks would be,
pale blush, dusty pinks and bronze
8. Opt for bolder, graphic kitchens: It’s the
coolest space in the home. It may inspire bold-
er flavours!
9. Four poster beds:These vintage masterpiec-
es are all the rage, and
an Isprava favourite!
10. Acrylic furniture:
It goes with any kind
of decor or colour
scheme, and adds
a playful yet chic
touch to any space,
without any visual
clutter
11. Bold and black
bathrooms: It is
sultry, dramatic and
modern in equal proportions
12. Wallpapers and painted bold walls: Espe-
cially wild florals!
Archana’s favourite space and its frills...
“My living room. It’s a shared space where my
husband and I lounge, live, create and
entertain. It is minimal, comfortable and
has a strong sense of nostalgia for me.
It is an open space with tons of natural
light and airy ventilation and is filled with
many accents collected from various parts of
our country and the world.The space exudes a
tranquil, bright and warm vibe, the perfect an-
tidote at the end of a long day.”
Archana’s last word in
decor...
Functional decor! “For me, two
qualities are important when it
comes to decor. First: sophis-
ticated solutions that marry
functionality and comfort. And
second: a visually soothing aes-
thetic. Functional pieces of fur-
niture that are not only
art in themselves, but
also usable are key. For
example: collapsable walls that trans-
form a place freely at any given time.
Or doors with secret storage that add a
little mystery and more importantly keep
things looking neat, clean and decluttered. I
tend to lean towards functional decor that’s
a perfect marriage between modern minimal-
ism and environmental conscious designs. I
just returned from Japan, and took a very long
walk through the multi-storeyed MUJI store
and they do it really well! Everything
was minimal, easy to use and aestheti-
cally perfect!”
ARCHANA’S
FAVOURITE HOME
DESIGN/DECOR
JAUNTS IN MUMBAI!
1. GOOD EARTH
2. NICOBAR
3. CLOVE
4. TAHERALLYS
5. MAHENDRA
DOSHI
TAKE A CUE!
A white epoxy floor-
ing with no joints
A greige (a mix of
grey and beige)
deep-seated, all lin-
en couch with navy
edging
An odd shaped 6
seater marble dining
table
Lightweight cane
and teakwood
chairs, customised
by Kunal Merchant
A Clayman dining
lamp
Three wooden
stumps, of different
shape and sizes
from Splendour
Ceiling to floor
sheers
A giant Traveller’s
Palm
A comfy throw from
Dar es Salaam
1
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
The living room in Archana’s home in Mumbai

IN{fashion+design}
H
e calls his career a jour-
ney. A journey that be-
gan thirty years ago at
the ripe age of 13. At
a time when neither
the term or word “in-
terior designer” really
existed. In fact, he’s never thought of himself
as one, not even today. Rather he believes he
is someone who is intellectually evolved to do
something different. And so he has, on a jour-
ney with many stops and stays along the way.
One that still continues. For Adil Ahmad, there
are no fullstops. “You spend a weekend, some-
times you spend a fortnight, but you have to
move on a journey, you can’t stay put. And for
me, it is all about the quest of continuous layer-
ing, learning and creating living spaces.”
On this journey, Adil Ahmad has been a
part of Good Earth wherein he transformed it
from a mere souvenir shop for mugs and cush-
ions into a renowned home collection space.
He helped launch Ritu Kumar Home where
he played creative director for a short while.
He’s been a part of many restoration projects,
most recently the restoration of a beautiful
18th century haveli in Rajasthan, crafting it into
a luxurious boutique hotel. He even worked
on an Isprava cottage in the hills of Kotagiri. →
TETE A TETE
with
ADIL AHMADKnown for designing spaces
that resonate not with him, but with those
that will occupy each space, Isprava catches
up with maestro interior designer Adil Ahmad
Sujan Raj Mahal, Jaipur

IN{fashion+design}
000 THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com16 THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com 17
But perhaps one of his most known works has
been the restoration of the beloved Rajmahal
Palace, Jaipur.
Though for Adil, he doesn’t consider it his
most seminal work. For him, each and every
project is just as dear, it could be a 1000 sq ft
project or a 100,000 sq ft project. But some-
times certain projects take on a life of their
own—and Rajmahal Palace was one of them. It
definitely is close to his heart because he nur-
tured something that has stood the test of time.
But even so, he doesn’t consider it as ‘Adil Ah-
mad’s Rajmahal Palace’. “It’s come way before
Adil Ahmad, and it is going to live on way after
Adil Ahmad”, he quips. But for the rest of the
country and world, it is a masterpiece that’ll
stop you in your tracks.
When asked about his design inspiration
Left: Adil Ahmad’s setup
at India Design ID, New
Delhi
Top: Adil Ahmad
behind it, he said ,“I did not want to create a
pastiche. Rajmahal itself wasn’t initially made
as a palace. It started off as a garden pavilion,
then it became a British residency and later
a country home for the royal family. Today it
is the current home of the titular head of the
family, a 20 year old boy. And my design in-
spiration was to create a young, happy home
for him. Something crisp, coherent and con-
temporary, while still borrowing cues from the
City Palace. I did not copy or create that typical
painted Rajasthani palace look—because then
that would have become a pastiche”. Instead
he took inspiration from the old and trans-
formed it into the new, by creating a series of
wallpapers, a more contemporary intervention,
uniquely inspired by the murals, paintings and
spaces inside the City Palace. His inspiration
was drawn from the slightest details—it could
be a flower, a colour or a motif. The result was
50 different beautiful and bespoke wallpapers,
each one specifically created for these spaces.
“I created Rajmahal as a space for a young
maharaja, a 21st century individual who has
grown up with the best of the west, is well trav-
elled, but is still rooted in his Indian sensibil-
ity, family heritage and past. If I made it into
a painted little pastiche of the City Palace, he
would have run away. What would he do in a
boring, dead museum? But today, he tells me
that I have created a space for him which is
his bolt hold. And that no matter where he is
in the world, he knows he has his anchor in
Rajmahal. And that’s the biggest compliment
for me. I describe the style of Rajmahal as con-
temporary colonial. And with the royal family
leaving it entirely up to me, I made that the
brief to myself,” explains Adil.
When we ask him about how he adds luxury
to his creations, he professes that he does not
set out to use luxury, because for him, luxury
is an essence. “Today’s connotation of luxury
has a very nouveau riche material meaning to
it. But for me, luxury is about sight, smell, sen-
sibility, style, space and soul. Not about the in-
trinsic value or all the gold and glitter used. My
idea of creating luxury is by the hush you get
enveloped in the moment you enter a space.
Luxury is the lilting sound of music, the trickle
of water, the languid air about a place. I like to
create a ‘time-stood-still’ kind of feeling. That
for me is luxury. Not a Fendi sofa or a Bulgari
clock on the mantle. Luxury comes from the
bazaars on the street”. →

IN{fashion+design}
So what is Adil Ahmad’s signature style? He
claims he doesn’t have one single one.Who is
his mentor? Again, he claims there’s more than
one. But if he had to choose, a designer whose
style he does not ape but admire—he admits
it would be Alberto Pinto. He loves his maxi-
malist style and the fact that he is into layering,
just like him. He goes on to ex-
plain, “My style is not subtle. I
feel subtlety is the lack of style.
I am very much into layering:
you will see a patterned wall-
paper, Central Asian textiles on
the cushions, there will be a Persian carpet,
on that carpet there will be a silver table. On
that table you will notice a protrusion of objets
d’art, and on top of that there will be a protru-
sion of flowers. It’s all there to form a sensory
explosion.” Having said that, he believes there
is a method to everything—a method to the
madness. It is all perfectly symmetrical, and he
believes that a person who really mastered this
kind of style was Alberto Pinto.
Additionally, he doesn’t follow trends. “Fol-
lowing trends is what travesty is all about”. He
does admit that he is relatively Rubenesque,
but you would never catch
him flaunting a designer trend,
instead only in a cotton kurta
and pajama—a style he finds
artistic, eclectic and most im-
portantly comfortable.Another
“no” on his list is about seeking perfection. He
does not. Because he knows he can never find
it. “Perfection is ultimately only a mirage. And
so, in my journey I have no final destination,
and continue to move forward, living, learning
and loving things as they are meant to be.”
“MY STYLE IS NOT
SUBTLE. I FEEL
SUBTLETY IS THE
LACK OF STYLE...“
Top: Adil Ahmad’s
setup at Luxury Lifestyle
Weekend, Mumbai
Architecture and jewellery may seem like they have nothing in
common. Jewellery extraordinaire Binoy Shah tells us otherwise
Y
ou would be surprised at
how head-turning archi-
tecture has formed the
foundation of some of
the most stunning jew-
ellery collections in the
world. It is a huge trend
in the industry where sleek geometry and
edgy wearable art have been seen and continue
to be noticed all over the biggest runways.
Binoy Shah of BNM Jewellers, a self-con-
fessed architect by passion, couldn’t agree
more. He believes that every piece of jewellery
always has a story behind it. An inspiration
that brings it to life and gives it true meaning.
And that could be a famous building, a mo-
tif or even an architectural style—both old or
new. For his own jewellery, he derives inspi-
ration from the abstract art and architecture
that he stumbles across when he travels. In fact
unique architecture from around the globe is a
recurrent theme in his jewellery collections.“I
keep a diary to recall my adventures
and experiences, and I keep observ-
ing various idiosyncratic elements in
the architecture around me. I return home
and try to turn them into beautifully craft-
ed masterpieces that will make every wearer
feel special and one of a kind”, quips Binoy.
As architecture takes many forms in differ-
ent cultures and contexts, each piece of
Binoy’s jewellery is unique and serves as
a real reminder of the destinations
he has travelled.
Some of the
WHEN JEWELLERY
meets ARCHITECTURE
architecture-inﬂuenced pieces that Binoy’s
collections boast of include art-deco-esque
pieces for its sheer sense of style and gran-
deur, while others take inspiration from ori-
ental patterns for its vast, complex and di-
verse range of elements. Using a large variety
of precious stones, titanium metals, mother
of pearls and more, Binoy and his team
recreate structural marvels in the form of
never-seen-before jewellery.
However, it is not always the case that
a jeweller references only ancient classical
shapes and art deco motifs.Today there are
enough jewellers and architects using mod-
ern structures as the basis of inspiration and
creation.Architect Zaha Hadid is one such ex-
ample. She ﬁrst collaborated with Swarovski
way back in 2008 and then with Geneva-based
Caspita to produce a series of rings that are
evocative of her curving, cellular-like build-
ings. Hadid later even curated a special series
entitled the ‘Zaha Hadid Selects’ comprising
20 handpicked pieces at the Goldsmiths’ Fair
in London which included a stunning ring by
Jennifer Saker, resonating complex and high-
ly engineered bridges and famous stadiums.
Taipei-based 22 Design Studio created rings
and earrings using concrete and steel direct-
ly lifted from its home city’s skyline. As for
some more familiar names: Tiffany & Co took
inspiration from the world of architec-
ture by collaborating with Frank Geh-
ry for his polished concrete collection.
Bulgari beautifully highlighted the
Takhti cut—a soft, curved
rectangle—which imitates
the shape of roof tiles in
Rajasthan palaces, in one
of its prized collections. And
Chanel produced a glittering
one-off diamond cuff based on
the mesmerising Manhattan street-
scape.Talk about two worlds merging!
Above: Gold plated cuff
with diamonds
Below: Binoy and Malav
along with their father
Mr. Rajen Shah
THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 |
recurrent theme in his jewellery collections.“I
keep a diary to recall my adventures
and experiences, and I keep observ-
ing various idiosyncratic elements in
the architecture around me. I return home
and try to turn them into beautifully craft-
ed masterpieces that will make every wearer
feel special and one of a kind”, quips Binoy.
As architecture takes many forms in differ-
ent cultures and contexts, each piece of
Binoy’s jewellery is unique and serves as
a real reminder of the destinations
he has travelled.
Some of the
and earrings using concrete and steel direct-
ly lifted from its home city’s skyline. As for
some more familiar names: Tiffany & Co took
inspiration from the world of architec-
ture by collaborating with Frank Geh-
ry for his polished concrete collection.
Bulgari beautifully highlighted the
Takhti cut—a soft, curvedTakhti cut—a soft, curvedTakhti
rectangle—which imitates
the shape of roof tiles in
Rajasthan palaces, in one
of its prized collections. And
Chanel produced a glittering
one-off diamond cuff based on
the mesmerising Manhattan street-
scape.Talk about two worlds merging!
Diamond
necklace

IN{fashion+design}
Bespoke has been given a new meaning by Chandigarh’s most
favourite fashion designer, Roopa Lamba. She brings us in on
the her bespoke little secrets...
BESPOKE MUSINGS
M
aking something one-
of-a-kind is how you
can transform some-
thing from being
ordinary to extraor-
dinary. Whether it
is a monogrammed
handbag, a made to measure shirt, a wedding
invite, a piece of decor, an entire home or a
beautifully customised outfit—it is the ultimate
luxury. Roopa Lamba, Chandigarh’s leading
fashion designer brings to focus the beauty of
bespoke in the realm of fashion, and life.
For Roopa, it is a matter of pride that she
has her own platform to craft unique design,
express imagination and bring to life timeless
works of art. She believes that the custom tai-
loring of anything reflects the individual in
question—their style sensibilities, what they
want to do, where they want to go, how they
want to live, how they want to travel, how they
want to be perceived. The process is the best
part.The alignment of mind, body and style—
that is a kind of experience that stays with you.
So by studying her clients and asking them all
the right questions, Roopa creates a montage
in her mind of what her creation is going to be.
Everything from the silk lining to the thread,
every detail should have a purpose and some
significance. “You need to connect with the
Clockwise: One
of Roopa Lamba’s
creations; Roopa
Lamba herself
client, create something specifically for that
individual—something they are going to enjoy
and most importantly, be comfortable in. Ba-
sically, craft an ‘object of desire’, but one that
celebrates them. This is the essential formu-
la to master the art. But the key thing to re-
member about going custom: whether you are
dressing up to go out, or you are sprucing up a
cosy corner of your home—being at ease with-
in your space is paramount”, quips Roopa.And
so comfort is the cornerstone of her bespoke
creations.
Inspiration is another key element to cre-
ating something never-seen-before. When
Roopa looks at her garments, many images
emerge.The wood board of a chandelier could
be used as a lehenga kalli. A painted ceiling or
a fresco could come to life in a printed pattern.
Jewelled colours from stained glass, mosaic
tiles, colours of the Goan sunset—all could
form the basis of a beautiful ensemble. In fact,
she even drew inspiration from Chinese tiles
that she spotted at a Hong Kong bar for a
special Chinese embroidery collection. In
her words, “Fashion does not limit, it creates,
it fuses, it juxtaposes.”
Roopa’s own style sensibilities exude a
blend of the traditional with the modern. Her
work includes fusing current silhouettes with
classic elements to create the distinctive. She
believes in the “buy now, but treasure forever”
philosophy, much like Isprava does. And she
likes using natural fabrics like silks, chiffons,
and taking something from the past and mak-
ing it new and appealing.Her clients have come
to her with items from their age-old trousseaus
and have had her transform it into beautiful
ensembles for their children’s weddings. She
says, “I believe that’s how my work stands out
in the sea of Indian wedding wear. And this
is what I love about Isprava as well. They too
believe in unearthing individual handcrafted
pieces for their homes. From my own Isprava
home in Goa, my favourites are the antique
cupboard in my room and the stunning pains-
takingly sourced dining table”.
Finally, it’s that special touch of luxury that
brings a bespoke creation all together. But for
Roopa, the definition of luxury is different. For
her luxury is experiential.“A sip of great coffee,
a relaxing massage, luxury is a home in Goa
more comfortable than my own, where I enjoy
quality time with my kids and grandkids”.
We couldn’t agree more!
Top: Intricate
embroidery work in
progress
Grid on the left: Some
of Roopa’s inspirations

IN{the spotlight}
THE NEWS AND THE NOTEWORTHY THAT’S MAKING ALL THE BUZZ
NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF QATAR OPENS ITS
DOORS TO THE WORLD
Inspired by the shape of the mineral desert rose—a flower-like crystal
formation found in the Gulf region, the 430,000 square feet structure
promises an immersive journey into the history of the nation
Defying the conventions of a traditional
art museum, the National Museum of
Qatar (NMoQ) is a cultural treasure.
Located across from the Corniche
waterfront in Doha, situated in front
of a manmade lagoon with 114
fountains, it is one of the first notable
structures you will see as you leave the
Doha international airport.
It took French Pritzker prize-winning
architect Jean Nouvel (who also
designed Abu Dhabi’s Louvre), ten
years to carefully conceptualise and
build this masterpiece before it opened
its doors to the public on March 28,
2019. On first glance you will notice
its stunning façade showcasing a fine
balance of modern and classic, with
giant sand-coloured interlocking discs
that look like supersized versions of
delicate petals. Look closer and you
will be astonished to know that the
entire structure is made of 250,000
fibreglass structures which were
artfully placed in 76,000 panels. Its
centrepiece is Sheikh Abdullah bin
Jassim Al Thani’s restored historic
palace.
NMoQ has 11 permanent
galleries offering a 360-degree
immersive experience of sight, touch,
sound and aromas into the natural,
anthropological and paleontological
history of Qatar, dating back almost
700 million years. It culminates in
present-day scenarios and progress
of a modern Qatar under the Emir
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Along the chronological journey you
take, you will come across rare objects
like the $5.5 million Pearl Carpet of
Baroda which was embroidered with
more than a million and a half fine
Gulf pearls, and heftily adorned with
emeralds, diamonds and sapphires.
You will also see the oldest Koran
discovered back in the 1800s.
It houses an auditorium, research
centre, laboratories, cafes and a
rooftop restaurant overlooking the bay.
The mission of this museum: to provide
lifelong learnings. Once you explore it,
you will see how that mission has been
so beautifully accomplished.
IN{the spotlight}
THE NEWS AND THE NOTEWORTHY
THE
POWER OF
PURPLE
Asian Paints’ colour of the year 2019
“Awakening” is meant to evoke
creativity at its finest with
striking shades of plum
Humble yet strong, pretty yet powerful—the
colour of the year unveiled by Asian Paints at
India Design ID is a beautiful mix of brown
and purple. Touted as the most decisive voice
on colour in the country, this year Asian
Paints introduces a colour that is symbolic of
strong resolve, noble intentions, confidence
and dynamism of being woke. While the
purple hue brings in a sense of authority, the
brown tone in it makes it down-to-earth and
approachable. And staying true to its name,
it is a colour that intends to give everyone
an ‘Awakening’, in one way or the other.
We love it for its warm, pulsating with life
and active demeanour and at the same time
it is interesting how the colour makes one
reminiscent of the erstwhile kings’ and queens’
elegant and elaborate attires. Now it’s time
to become a merlot aficionado, and take this
colour places with your interiors:
Texture is everything: This year it’s all about
less is more. Avoid the clutter of loud prints and
big patterns. Instead add depth and dimension
with weighted and sheer fabrics, a variety of
weaves and textured elements, putting into
focus the luxury of this new plum shade.
A play of papers: Give your walls an
undeniably modern yet classic vibe by
incorporating the colour to your space in the
form of quality wallpapers. A single purple
wall will arrest the attention of anyone who
walks through the door.
Accents of Awakening: For those who prefer
a more minimalist approach, update your
space with one or two accents that provide a
striking contrast. Make purple the protagonist
through soft furnishing, like a chair cover, a
bed headboard, or a rug that exudes a sense
of royalty.
Imagine travelling from Mumbai
to Pune in just 35-40 minutes. Or
swapping traffic congestion for
whizzing across clear blue skies
aboard a copter. Sounds pretty
brilliant, doesn’t it? Well it’s all
soon possible with Blade India,
a collaboration between USA’s
Fly Blade Inc and India’s Hunch
Ventures, flying in to solve your
daily travel woes.
The service: Blade India, an
aviation start up, will offer intercity
and intracity helicopter services to
you and me, and will operate via
an app for ease of accessibility.
All you have to do is download
the Blade app on your smartphone
and use it to book your ride. Who
knew there would be a day when
booking a copter would be as
easy as booking an Uber or Ola.
The routes: Blade has already
been operating its services in
USA, with its lounges in major
cities like New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Florida and California. In India,
to begin with, Blade will offer its
services connecting places like
Juhu and Mahalaxmi to Pune city
or Shirdi.
The capacity, duration and
timings: The rides will potentially
seat 5-8 passengers at a time.
And the company is aiming to
provide rides within 20 minutes
from the time you arrive at the
lounge. For maximum safety,
it will fly only between sunrise
and sunset.
The pricing: In the beginning
it will seem like an expensive
undertaking, but then again,
time is money. Over time, Blade
India hopes to be able to make it
more economical and reach out
to the masses.
BLADE TAKES OFF
IN INDIA
Initial routes will connect two of the most
congested cities in the world, replacing 4-8 hour
drives with a 35 minute helicopter ride

IN{the spotlight}
YACHTS OF ENVY
These are the yachts making BIG waves
The dream: to ride the waves
and float around the world in
extravagance, aboard one of
these drool-worthy beauties. Hey,
dreams can come true.
SUPERPOWER OF THE
OCEAN
One glance at the Aeroboat S6
and you will fall in love. With
a Rolls Royce engine promising
top speeds of 48 knots, you can
expect an extraordinary and
uncompromising experience out
in the open waters. Designed by
British-based Claydon Reeves
design studio and BMT Nigel Gee,
the 65 feet carbon and aluminium
cruiser promises generosity of
space, both above and below the
deck. On the upper deck you will
notice an elegant al fresco dining
with adjustable seating, a perfect
spot to indulge in lavish spreads
whilst enjoying endless ocean
views. Its expansive windows
all around endow you with no
less, while the wooden flooring
perfectly complements its metallic
exterior. The interior cabins feature
an equipped kitchen, shower area,
entertainment unit, a garage that
can hold up to two jet skis, and
a recluse away from the rest, but
not from the majestic views. The
yacht unfurls with many more cool
features: it’s got transformable
stairways, pop-up railings,
movable decks, hidden television
screens which stow away when
not in use and so much more,
allowing you to comfortably and
luxuriously spend hours or even
days at sea.
A WINNER IN THE
WATER
She won the World Superyacht
Award 2018, and she was a
worthy winner indeed. Ribelle,
Vitters custom sailing yacht is a
true maritime marvel, and yet
is designed to make you feel
like you’re right at home. Credit
for the modern and slick naval
architecture and exterior design
goes to Malcolm McKeon Yacht
Design while Rémi Tessier was
responsible for the bright and
modern interior décor. This 32.64
metre superstructure is made of
carbon fibre and titanium—a feat
that required immense design
thinking. Reaching speeds of
more than 20 knots in moderate
conditions, she also has a super
sleek anchor arm, making her a
lightweight wonder. But it’s the
futuristic glass canopy beautifully
curved and finished with high-gloss
framing filling the yacht with light,
that tips the scales. Inside, you will
notice a combination of bleached
teak, white leather and high-gloss
copper accents, exuding a fine
balance between vintage style and
contemporary luxury. The lower
deck houses three cabins, big
enough for up to six guests to stay,
and there are additional quarters
for a crew of five. The master
suite has a walkaround bed and
there’s also a kitchen fully amped
with three ovens, a large induction
cooktop, a chiller and a two-metre
working island. Intended for high-
performance racing as much as
relaxed cruising, Ribelle is indeed
a true winner.
THE NEWS AND THE NOTEWORTHY
THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com 000THE ISPRAVA INSIDER 2019 | VOLUME TWO | www.isprava.com 25

IN{conversation}
THE ONES ON THE ISPRAVA RADAR
An in-depth, comprehensive report on sustainable living, responsibility
and development written by Mukund Rajan, homeowner of Isprava’s
Gleneagle Estate
I
am the proud owner of Gleneagle Estate, a love-
ly property built for my wife and me by Ispra-
va in the Nilgiri Hills. Our property is nestled
amidst hills, forests and tea plantations in an
environment that is still quite unspoilt. The air
you breathe is possibly the cleanest and most
invigorating you could hope for anywhere in In-
dia, and daytime temperatures throughout the year typically
stay within a high of the mid-twenty degrees centigrade.
At a time when India has the dubious record of hosting
ten of the twenty most polluted cities in the world, having
the option of getting away from the pollution and the sum-
mer heat to the idyllic surroundings of Gleneagle Estate is
truly a blessing. And as the serving Chairman of the Envi-
ronment Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), I count my blessings
every day when I see the sad situation that many parts of
our country face to achieve sustainable development.
For several decades after India gained independence
from the British colonial rule, the developmental agenda
took precedence, natural for an extremely poor country. At
the 1972 Stockholm United Nations Conference on Human
Environment, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi called this out
in a famous speech where she said “poverty is the greatest
polluter”. While this period saw some significant conserva-
tion initiatives such as Project Tiger, to restore the popula-
tion of tigers in India by addressing human-animal conflict
in tiger habitats across India, the focus was nevertheless
clearly on developmental priorities.
In more recent times, though, with growing awareness of
water and air pollution, and the impetus provided by trag-
edies like the Bhopal gas leak in 1984, a number of actions
have been undertaken including the enactment of legisla-
tions like the Air andWater Acts and the Environment Pro-
tectionAct,and the creation of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests at the centre in Delhi to give better definition
THE AGENDA ON
SUSTAINABILITY
to the country’s approach to sustainable development. The
number of laws and rules and regulations in place at both
the centre and the states in India is, however, no guarantee
for protection of the environment, as we see creeping crises
emerge in a range of areas, from water stress in rural areas
and even major cities like Chennai, to air pollution in the
national capital. A key requirement is more effective mon-
itoring and policing of environmental compliance, where
stakeholders from the media and the non-profit sector have
an important role to play in assisting the government.
Aggravating the situation is the emergence of global en-
vironmental issues which present unique challenges.These
issues, like global warming, ozone depletion and the loss
of biodiversity, call for international cooperation; no one
nation can solve these problems on its own, and the collab-
oration of all countries is required for their resolution. On
an issue like global warming, for example, it is of little use
if the major economies of the developed world, the United
States and the European Union, implement significant ac-
tions to curb their greenhouse gas emissions, unless two of
the top three greenhouse gas emitters in the world, namely
China and India, also join hands to reduce their emissions.
A consensus is required between all countries, to ensure
the available global carbon budget is distributed rationally.
We are beginning to experience the extremely grave
threats posed by global environmental issues like global
warming.The increased frequency of natural calamities like
the Uttarakhand floods of 2013 which killed many thou-
sands, or the unprecedented floods that struck Chennai in
2015 or Kerala last year, are a harbinger of things to come.As
the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, India
will need to play a big role in resolving the issue of climate
change, and this will require the collaboration of the gov-
ernment with all stakeholders to develop a national strategy
to combat climate change. Already, under the framework of
the Paris Climate Pact, the Indian government has under- →
View from Gleneagle Estate

IN{conversation}
The vertical garden at Gleneagle Estate
taken to reduce the carbon intensity of its GDP by 33-35%
over 2005 levels by 2030, and to produce 40% of its energy
through renewables by 2030. More will progressively need
to be done, as the world and India race to deal with the
forecast of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
late last year that global warming is happening now at a
much faster pace than was projected earlier.
At a critical time like this, when there are high mutu-
al interdependencies between the major economies of the
world, the role of the United Nations also becomes very
important. In 2015, its work led to the adoption of the Unit-
ed Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. The
UN SDGs today offer the most comprehensive framework
for the pursuit of sustainability, with 17 SDGs traversing is-
sues ranging from poverty alleviation to enhancing gender
equality,in turn translating into 169 targets the international
community would like to see achieved by 2030. The biggest
motivation for the adoption of the UN SDGs is the growing
confidence that greater awareness and advances in science
and technology now offer the ability to find solutions for all
the SDG challenges.
The combination of domestic laws and rules and regula-
tions,and international frameworks and treaties,place many
responsibilities on the shoulders of the largest contributors
to the sustainability challenges we face, namely the corpo-
rate sector. Indian corporates are being tasked to report
and make better disclosures on sustainability. A number
of Indian companies already use the Global Reporting Ini-
tiative framework. The market regulator SEBI has recently
encouraged the adoption of Integrated Reporting by India’s
largest listed companies.The government has also recently
issued new National Guidelines on Responsible Business
Conduct, and these are expected to feed into the Business
Responsibility Reports that the top 500 listed companies in
India are required to file (likely to soon be extended to the
top 1000 companies).
Indian corporates are also beginning to embrace the
concept of the “circular economy”, one where resources are
circulated within the system releasing minimal waste into
the biosphere. A number of new enterprises are being cre-
ated to retrieve what would earlier be considered “waste”
and convert both wet and dry waste into usable products.
New business models are springing up, in areas like the
sharing economy (think Uber or Ola) or productivity en-
hancement (as offered by Philips when it prices luminos-
ity as a service rather than as a set of light bulb products).
Large companies, including some auto makers, are making
big investments in design thinking, after undertaking full
life-cycle assessments of their products. They are also be-
ginning to value and report on the various forms of capital
they manage, including natural capital and social capital,
factoring in the whole life-cycle value of the costs and risks
embedded in the products and services they produce.
The new challenges of sustainability are spurring →The vertical garden at Gleneagle Estate

IN{conversation}
corporate innovation and the quest for new business op-
portunities. Corporates see that by responding to the
sustainability trends with agility—they can not only re-
main competitive, mitigate risks, and future proof their
businesses, but also be well positioned to seize the busi-
ness opportunities that get unlocked as a result. Significant
market opportunities are being created in India in sectors
ranging from solar power equipment to drip irrigation
modules to electric vehicles, all a result of the new focus
on sustainability.
Corporates are also being responsive to the increase in
the number of consumers, especially millennials, who are
becoming more inclined to buy products or services that
align with their own lifestyles and value systems. For such
consumers, it is no longer about what you buy, but what
you buy into. If businesses are willing to clarify the high-
er purpose they serve, customers are also willing to reward
them with both mind-share and share of wallet. Corporates
that offer purpose-driven brands, like “Tata”, whose Mis-
sion is to ‘Improve the Quality of Life of the Communities
We Serve”, or “The Body Shop”, which commits to ‘En-
rich, not Exploit’, consequently tend to get good traction in
the market.
As with corporations elsewhere, Indian corporates are
also facing scrutiny on the sustainability actions of their
supply chain participants. Today, for instance, if an Indian
tea company, say Tata Global Beverages, wishes to sell tea
in markets across the world, it has to be very concerned
about the treatment of labour and the sustainability prac-
tices followed in plantations across India, Sri Lanka, Kenya
and various other parts of the world from where it sources
the tea it sells.
The net impact of all of these trends—the quest for a
circular economy, new protocols to value social and natural
and other forms of capital, the thrust on innovation, and the
growing consumer affinity for purpose-driven brands —is
that in India, the most forward-looking corporates are be-
ginning to place sustainability at the heart of their business
strategies, as Unilever, a global role model has done with its
Sustainable Living Plan. Indeed, the entire sustainability
agenda is now becoming a part of mainstream corporate
strategy development and the responsibility of the CEO,
with Board oversight.
It is also noteworthy that India has gone one step further
than most other countries in outlining the responsibilities
of the corporate sector. It has taken the lead in legislating
expectations from corporates in the area of Corporate So-
cial Responsibility or CSR. In a first-of-its kind legislation
anywhere in the world in 2013,corporates in India that meet
a size and scale test are required to spend 2% of their net
profits on CSR.This spending is required to be monitored
by a committee of the Board of Directors, which includes
an Independent Director. This scrutiny is elevating the
discourse on CSR at the level of the Board—where earlier
CSR spending by Indian companies used to be something
undertaken “beyond business”, if and when a corporate had
the money and inclination, it is now a firm mandate, and
a matter of considerable debate and discussion amongst
Board Directors, with a focus on the efficiency of spending
and the outcomes delivered. In addition, in the more for-
ward-looking corporates, we are seeing the mandate of such
Board committees expand, to include the larger subject
of sustainability.
Corporate engagement with the sustainability agenda is
now the subject of great interest for investors around the
world. This is the reason that an increasing number of in-
vestors are focussed on the Environment, Social and Gov-
ernance, or ESG, performance of their portfolio companies.
This is the reason that Larry Fink, the head of one of the
world’s largest institutional investors, BlackRock, advises
CEOs in his annual letter that “To prosper over time, every
company must not only deliver financial performance, but
“THE ENTIRE SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA IS NOW BECOMING A PART
OF MAINSTREAM CORPORATE STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CEO, WITH BOARD OVERSIGHT.”
also show how it makes a positive contribution to society.
Companies must benefit all of their stakeholders, including
shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities
in which they operate.”
ESG is now the fastest growing investment approach
globally, with over $70Trillion of assets under management
committed to the UN Principles for Responsible Invest-
ing (PRI). This number will increase as new regulations
emerge in markets like the European Union, where it will
soon become a requirement for all asset managers to dis-
close the ESG performance of their investment portfolios.
Studies show a correlation between material ESG actions
and firm outcomes, and these outcomes in terms of better
performance and reduced risk improve when there is active
engagement. That is precisely the thesis that underlies the
ESG Fund I have launched recently. We intend to incen-
tivise Indian companies that are already on or prepared to
get onto the ESG performance improvement journey, and
will demonstrate through our investee companies that a
focus on ESG can yield lower cost of operations, risk re-
duction, lower cost of borrowing, and greater prospects for
valuation rerating.
So, as members of key stakeholder groups that can im-
pact the sustainability agenda—be it as part of the govern-
ment, or in the corporate sector, or in the non-profit sector,
or as an investor or lender—we each have a responsibility
to fulfil. But equally, let us not forget that each of us can also
individually exercise judgment and support what is right,
whether it is in the selections we make as a customer, or as
a volunteer willing to dedicate time and skills for improv-
ing the focus on sustainability. Ask yourself whether you
are doing the best you can to reduce your climate footprint.
Do you reduce your individual carbon footprint by limiting
your consumption of petrol, and do you use mass mobili-
ty solutions when available? Do you minimize your use of
power, and use air-conditioning moderately? Do you limit
your water usage, and have you implemented solutions like
rain-water harvesting in your home? Do you reduce plastic
usage, and are you trying to eliminate the use of single-use
plastic products wherever possible such as plastic straws,
stirrers and cups? Do you segregate garbage, and re-use and
repair items instead of discarding them?
In conclusion, let us remember the prophetic words
of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi—the world
has enough for every person’s need, but not for every per-
son’s greed!
By Mukund Govind Rajan (mrajan@ecubeindia.in)Soumya and Mukund Rajan
Mukund Rajan, Chairman of ECube
Investment Advisors, an ESG focused
platform, was earlier Chief Ethics
Officer of the Tata Group and Chair-
man of the Tata Global Sustainability
Council. A published author, this IIT
Delhi and Oxford alumnus has a fresh
new focus on all things to do with
environmental sustainability.

IN{conversation}
It isn’t picture perfect, and that’s the point. Architect and Interior Designer
extraordinaire Ashiesh Shah lets us in to the world of Wabi-Sabi as he forays into
product design. He explains its unique application with his recent collaborations
and describes the beauty of this art form in his own special way
A
s with everything that stems from
forging an identity of your own, to
making your work stand out and
leaving an impact, it initially took
me some time to find my personal
visual language. Finding inspiration
from art, architecture and the likes
is quintessential. What you imbibe from it is primary and
where you draw the line holds utmost importance. Geom-
etry, right from the start, has always been an important ele-
ment in my practice, and is often the point of departure for
all of my designs.
For the past several years, I have been exploring the
concept of Wabi-Sabi—an ancient Japanese philosophy of
balancing elements that has been a strong part of all my
projects and now a primary focus of my very own, Atelier
Ashiesh Shah. My atelier is my space of contentment. On
some level, I always knew I wanted to foray into product
design—I was just waiting for the right platform and my
collaboration with Urban Ladder was the perfect opportu-
nity to venture into this space.
Exquisitely Asian, the Wabi Sabi collection of the very
successful Urban Ladder X Ashiesh Shah collaboration
represents the best of eastern design. The colour palette
is earthy, neutral, and soothing.These pieces represent the
industrial, as exemplified by the precise finishes—and the
traditional, shown to advantage in the cane weaving and the
leatherette detailing.These pieces were designed to be part
art, part craft and part material. Inspired from the Japanese
philosophy, the Wabi Sabi collection aims at reviving tra-
ditional Indian crafts and combining them with a modern
THE WAY OF
WABI SABI
sensibility. The pieces of furniture are characterised by a
subtle vocabulary of minimal lines, blending local materials
like teak and cane with brass and faux leather details.
Making the jump from interiors to product design was a
natural progression. Custom designing products, be it fur-
niture, lighting or bath ware for my projects is something
I’ve been doing right from the beginning of my practice
as an interior architect. It accentuates bringing within the
space a personality that resonates best with the space de-
signed, a personality with an underlying aesthetic of Wa-
bi-Sabi, a personality that is more of me.
Atelier, a pivot, facilitating the protraction of my de-
sign studio is a limitless assemblage of design and design
thinkers. An extension to my design practice, Atelier inte-
grates experimentation, craftsmanship and technique into
a creative ecosystem for collaboration and development.
Gravitating towards geometry, materiality and my simple
Wabi-Sabi aesthetic, Atelier is a process-driven think-tank,
a composition of inventiveness, tapped by artists, coming
together to narrate tales of evolving aesthetics, stories of my
personal visual language, developed over the years.
Besides bringing the aesthetics through everyday ob-
jects, interior spaces that I have designed like Raw Mango
and Masque stand true to the very same philosophy. Raw
Mango is a very unique brand in that it’s trying to find its
own essence through minimalism and what Indian mini-
malism really means.This idea was very much the point of
departure for me while designing the space.Sanjay,founder
of Raw Mango, had a very clear vision about his brand. So
when Raw Mango approached me, it was very much about
marrying our aesthetics. They wanted me to help create →
“The Moonshadow”, placed in pairs, textured with hand-moulded clay and blackened with chirona leaves

IN{conversation}
Raw Mango, Mumbai
“Many Moon”, grey grained white marble assembled as a minimal sphere is sliced into six trays, two bowls and a platter

IN{conversation}
Masque, Mumbai
something structured yet effortless, which immediately di-
rected me to a Wabi-Sabi-inspired palette.
Masque, is yet another restaurant that radiated this phi-
losophy. Occupying an old warehouse in Mumbai’s once
buzzing cotton district, Masque is a play of materials and
form. Tapping into the natural architecture of the space it-
self, forms appear and disappear. The natural light floods
in from the skylight above and illuminates the restaurant
floor, part white polished marble, part textured slate. Many
elements that might be considered ‘de rigueur’ in most lux-
ury restaurants are ditched in favour of bare natural mate-
rials. The use of hard wood tables, brass structures, stone
clad walls and floors, mirror the chef’s approach to the
naturally sourced and foraged.The Japanese philosophy of
Wabi-Sabi was central in the design process. Characterized
by an aesthetic of beauty that incorporates natural objects
and processes, it is stripped down and subtle. The restau-
rant decor is also fairly minimal and whatever objects are
on display have been carefully procured and help create a
balance of materials, textures and colours.The architecture
of the space, the amalgamation of materials and soft light
create a cocoon within which one can no longer keep track
of time, and get transported away from the bustle of the city.
Wabi-Sabi, is a philosophy of life, and once you accept it,
everything trickles down to it. I don’t make a special effort
to bring it to my practice, but if you look at my spaces, you
see that element of finished and unfinished. It is a tight-
rope you are walking, but you have to maintain that. Thus,
asymmetry and asperity play a major role in my practice. I
appreciate spaces that incorporate natural objects and pro-
cesses and I try to maintain this principle in my own prac-
tice. Nothing is permanent, nothing is finished and nothing
is perfect.
Masque, Mumbai
Ashiesh Shah
Ashiesh Shah, has graduated
from Parsons School of De-
sign, and spearheads his own
design firm today. With a digital
following of over 60k, he has
been voted amongst the top 50
influencers in the architecture and
design space for 5 years running.
Ashiesh is a visual thinker and
his portfolio includes everything
from celebrity homes to concept
homes, design exhibitions and
TV shows.

IN{conversation}
Kindness. Unwavering support. And
a positive spirit. KARO, a public
charitable trust, embodies all of that
and more, in its constant efforts to
make a difference
W
hen it comes to healthcare,
it’s disquieting to know
that something so basic is
not every person’s privi-
lege. Quality healthcare is a
growing concern today. It’s
nearly impossible for pov-
erty-stricken families to tackle grave illnesses. But, amidst it
all, KARO shines strong, sparkling with hope.
Established in 2014, this public charitable trust provides
holistic healthcare to lesser privileged patients from low in-
come groups. And it doesn’t stop there. KARO also lends
itself to preventive healthcare, rehabilitation and mental
health support. Be it a 2-year old child who found support
and solace in this trust or a 28-year-old woman who re-
mains grateful to KARO for helping her through her most
harrowing times, KARO is replete with stories of love. →
A
SHINING
BEACON
OF HOPE

IN{conversation}

IN{conversation}
It all began when young Karan Malhotra was undergo-
ing treatment for an aggressive form of cancer—Ewing’s
sarcoma. During this time, Karan became particularly sen-
sitised to the realities of this disease. He wondered how
those with low incomes churned out sufficient resources
for such treatments. It forged in him a desire to provide
quality and holistic healthcare to the less fortunate. Quick
to realise the shortcomings in cancer care in India, Karan
set up a structure that the underprivileged could turn to in
troubled times.
While Karan passed on in 2014,his vision and beliefs con-
tinue to live on through KARO. For them, every life matters
and no cause is too small. In keeping with the same, they
recently launched KARO Home in Mumbai, a unique ac-
commodation project for Teenage and Young Adult (TYAs)
cancer patients. Its aim? To provide a hygienic and relaxed
environment for patients from different parts of the country
to complete their treatment.This 11 bed facility offers toilet-
ries, food, bedding and kitchen ware.
How do they make this magic happen? Well, KARO is
wholly funded through its donor partners. Primarily, they
provide financial and emotional support to those suffering
from cancer and other life-threatening diseases. From sup-
porting treatments of over 1600 patients to working with
hospitals to subsidise treatment costs for the poor, KARO
continues to spread love and most importantly, hope.
Isprava stands very close to this cause and we hope you
will too! For more information or to donate to this worthy
cause, visit www.karo.org.in. Do it now!
Karo, a public charitable trust
founded in 2014 that has a
“do-it-now” attitude with every-
thing they do: providing holistic
healthcare to low-income com-
munities along with financial aid,
preventive healthcare, rehab and
even mental health support.

Details, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
IN{our world}
NEW HOME ON THE BLOCK
Prepare for lush green trees, beautiful tea plantations
and majestic peaks to serenade you on your stay
Sweeping views of the Nilgiris. Easy access to the sprawling Wellington Golf
Course, Coonoor. Oodles of colonial charm. Albany Cottage promises it all.
Tucked away in the tea-garden town of Wellington, Coonoor, this iconic prop-
erty comes with four bedrooms, an independent water source and an enchant-
ing garden. Better still, the Wellington Golf Course is five minutes away by
road, with the city of Coimbatore being 90 minutes away, leaving you with
plenty of options to go out and explore. The rolling tea plantations and the
quiet peaks that surround the property blend privacy with exclusivity, making
for an unforgettable experience. →
A QUICK GLIMPSE OF
ISPRAVA’S ALBANY COTTAGE

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IN{our world}
Living room, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

IN{our world}
Verandah, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
Gazebo, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

Even as you arrive, you will notice that the architecture of Albany
Cottage dips and curves with the layers of its surrounding landscape.
This is a conscious effort on the part of the architects—an effort to
let their design flow seamlessly with the area it is built in the midst
of. Slick, plastered walls are juxtaposed with exposed stone, all set
against manicured lawns, perfectly reflecting undertones of English
design. Plenty of spaces in the house open out onto stunning vistas
of the unending hills. Sit-outs are generously peppered around, just
so that you can revel in the spectacular views. And all of this was
achieved without disturbing the natural lay of the land.→
Bathroom, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
IN{our world}
Guest bedroom, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

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IN{our world}
The Gazebo, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

Terrace, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
IN{our world}
Dining area, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

Master bedroom, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
IN{our world}
A cosy niché in the guest bedroom, Albany Cottage, Coonoor

Seating in the master bedroom, Albany Cottage, Coonoor
IN{our world}
Albany Cottage is predominantly a colonial-style home. Every-
where you look, you will find your eyes settling on comforting shades
of beige, green and white. Its four bedrooms are also wonderfully
furnished and equipped to cater to your every need. Think double
mercerized sheets and satin pillow covers with a 300-thread count.
French style furniture is dotted around the house, upholstered in ex-
quisite silk or soft cotton. Several antique furniture pieces as well as
the aged teak wood doors and windows here have been sourced from
palaces and mansions across India and Europe. Reindeer sculptures
and carved art pieces imbue the space with an affable charm, while
the crockery in the dining room comprises of the finest bone china.
Albany Cottage is all about the details. Even the floor tiles here are
distinctive, with different tiles in nearly every room.The landings are
kitted out with smart wooden floors and wooden stairs, while the liv-
ing room is laid out with stone look tiles boasting elegant gold stripes.
The library on the other hand, is done up with KP tiles in washes of
gentle beige, green and white, inviting you to sit down and simply
lose yourself between the pages of a book.The bedrooms here are an
interesting mix of KP tiles and wooden floors, with one of them being
beautifully laid out in tiles that reflect a Herringbone wood design in
hues of grey.
Suffice to say that this stellar property is a luxurious slice of par-
adise. Its quintessentially English charm is laced with an infectious
Goan air that plays off beautifully across the space. Elements of the
outdoors can jump out and surprise you, right from one of the bed-
rooms’ green wallpaper with wooden wainscoting to tubs of plants
boasting fresh yellow blooms. It’s almost as though the beauty of the
great outdoors has all but spilled over into this gorgeous home. Come
see it to believe it.
Book your next getaway at Albany Cottage! Reach out to us on
+91-8080808797 or rent@isprava.com

IN{technology}
UP TO SPEED WITH THE LATEST IN TECH
In the age of ‘all-things-smart’, it’s
time to wake up and embrace a new
reality. Imagine controlling how the
lights in your home flicker on and
off, dim as you please and change
colours based on your mood from the
comfort of an app on your phone or
via your voice when paired with a
smart assistant.
Repeat after us…
“Alexa, turn on the bedroom light”
“Siri, change the light to pink”
“Google, reduce the brightness of the
light to 20%”
And no, this won’t cost you an
island—in fact smart lighting options
are quite affordable. Plus, think of
all the cool things you can do! You
can group all the bulbs in your home
together to have a single control.
Furthermore, you can set up routines
so that when you’re watching a
movie, the main lights turn off and
everything else turns to a warmer
colour. If you incorporate sensors,
you can have your front door light
turn on when someone approaches
or have your night light gleam as
you wake up in the middle of the
night, saving yourself from a stumble.
What’s more, even someone who is
technologically challenged can jump
on this bandwagon, as setting up
smart lighting is simple with any smart
phone or tablet. It doesn’t require any
new wiring or complicated systems
to work. Another bonus: it’s all LED,
so very low power consumption and
some may even be battery based.
From desk lamps to bedside ones,
ceiling lights to ambience lamps—
smart lighting comes in a plethora of
sizes, shapes, colours and styles from
a huge variety of different brands
like: Philips Hue, Xiaomi, Yeelight
(one of our personal favourites), and
so many more.
It’s time to light up your world.
SWIPE
RIGHT
TO TURN
ON THE
LIGHTS
Smart lights are the
new cool way of
switching things up
Picture this: You sit comfortably on a
plush sofa, a bowl of buttery popcorn
in your hands. You watch your
favourite movie or perhaps another
rerun of your favourite TV show. And
if you happen to get a little tired,
you simply sink downwards and take
a nap. That’s the magic of having
a home theatre space—a Netflix
nirvana zone of sorts.
Soft lighting, tasteful furnishings
and a large television screen—
what’s not to love? A space like this
becomes an instant favourite among
families wanting to unwind together
after a long day. So, if you happen
NETFLIX
NIRVANA
Crafting the perfect home
theatre space made easy
to be renovating your home or
converting an old bedroom
into something new, consider
a home theatre space. Here
are 3 key tips from Isprava to
help you out.
COLOUR IT RIGHT
Never underestimate the
power of the right colours
in design. Sure, you could
opt for pastel shades.
But we suggest darker,
earthier tones. They lend
the space with an air
of elegance, making it
seem like you’ve swung
by a movie theatre
instead of being right at
home! Think soft shades
of oak, forest green
and honey. Mounting
your television on a glossy, wood-
panelled wall is also a great choice.
SEAT YOURSELF
You don’t want to be shifting and
sliding uncomfortably while you watch
a movie. So, go for comfortable seats.
Straight-backed chairs and wooden
stools are a strict no-no! Opt for cozy,
buttery armchairs that simply invite
you to sink in. You could also use
deep wing chairs and sectional sofas
to stretch out on. Ottomans to rest your
feet on are also a good idea.
LIGHT IT UP
Remember, you’re trying to create an
ambience here. Instead of peppering
the room with lights, opt for soft lights
with a tinge of yellow. Spotlights and
track lights work great. You don’t want
too many light fixtures and since it’s a
home theatre space, you’re going to
want to keep too much natural light
from streaming in. Let light-blocking
curtains and Venetian blinds come to
the rescue!
AUDI & AI
Audi showcases AI:ME concept at the
Shanghai Auto Show 2019
Just like Isprava, Audi is a name that
is synonymous with luxury. Each car
from the brand boasts a sleek design
and a flawless engine, crafted
to please every automobile lover
around. But it doesn’t stop there.
Constant innovation is just another of
the many things that Audi thrives on.
Take the Shanghai Auto Show
2019 for example. The star of the
evening at this event was Audi’s
AI:ME concept car that perfectly
showcased the ideas of the brand’s
designers and developers. Think of it
as a compact car, built for the future.
It actually looks like a super cool and
slick city hatchback. It’s even packed
with plenty of interesting features—
level 4 automated driving, spacious,
futuristic interiors, virtual reality tech
features, the works.
This car has two seats in the
front, but it can be configured in
plenty of different ways, as per your
convenience. There’s enough space
for four people in the front as well as
on the rear bench, if needed. Plus,
it comes with a 65 kWh battery
and a 125 kW electric motor. And
that’s not even the best part! The
interiors are as luxurious as it gets,
with everything from open-pore
walnut wood to real plants and
wooden struts at the roof to improve
cabin circulation.
The Audi AI:ME also has a state-
of-the-art onboard computer that
enables you to drive autonomously
along breezy highways or specially
designated areas in certain inner
cities. There’s also a steering wheel
and pedals that smoothly whiz into
the dashboard when you’re driving
autonomously or stuck in traffic.
Fancy? We think so! While it does
look a lot like the 2017 Audi Aicon,
it’s actually smaller and better suited
to our urban lifestyles.
Audi AI:ME gives us a glimpse
into the future, where driving can
become once again, something to
thoroughly enjoy!

IN{entertainment}
THE EVENTS AND THE EVENTFUL
Discover the must-attend luxury events and
happenings around the world with our
2020 Isprava Inspires calendar
THE ISPRAVA
CALENDAR
inspires
The Golden Globe Awards
LOS ANGELES
Hollywood’s liveliest Sunday
night of the year!
New York Fashion Week
NEW YORK
When the fashion world takes
over New York
Art Basel
HONG KONG
Features premier galleries
from Asia and beyond, and
provides a glimpse into
the region’s diversity
through historical material
and cutting edge works
by established and
emerging artists
Frieze
NEW YORK
Discover the world’s leading
contemporary and modern
galleries and some great
after parties
MoMa Party in the Garden
NEW YORK
The museum’s annual party is
quite the soiree, featuring the
art world’s bigwigs
20202020JANJAN2020JAN20202020JAN2020
EARLY
2020FEB
2020MAR
2020MAY
2020JUN
Montreal Jazz Festival
MONTREAL
Ranked as the world’s largest
jazz festival in the Guinness
World Records, this 41st
edition, gear yourself up
for ten days and nights
of music, 150 shows and
thousands of elite artists
Olympic Games
TOKYO
The world’s greatest sporting
event is going to take place
in the world’s most
exciting city
Yokohama Triennale
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Every three years, Japan
hosts one of its most
important art exhibitions
covering paintings,
sculptures, photography
and more
Monaco Yacht Show
MONACO
The world’s greatest
superyacht event celebrates
its 30th edition this year!
Serendipity Goa
PANAJI GOA
A multidisciplinary festival that
brings together performative,
visual and culinary practices
from India and beyond,
in ways like never seen
before
Field of Lights
ULURU, AUSTRALIA
This is a one off extraord-
inary installation from
British artist Bruce Monro
featuring 50,000 lights
on short stalks conceived
to represent blooming
desert flowers after rain
UEFA Europa League
EUROPE
One of the biggest football
extravaganzas, for the
very first time will be held
across 10 countries and
cities in Europe like Rome,
Amsterdam and Budapest.
Finals will be in London
Miami Swim Week
MIAMI
The best in lifestyle, resort
and swimwear on the hottest
runway of the world
2020JUN-JUL
2020JUL
2020JUL
2020JUL-AUG
2020AUG-OCT
2020SEPT
2020DEC
2020NOW-DEC

IN{entertainment}
How to host the most luxurious party,
from the dream themes to showcasing
the finest cutlery and most delectable
varieties of food and drink, Isprava
decodes it in style
PICK A THEME
Themed parties are always fun. Pick something
your guests will enjoy, like a Black & White
ball or a Great Gatsby gala.
CUTLERY CHOICES
Use your best china if
you’re hosting a tea
party. We suggest going
mismatched for that easy-
breezy, charming vibe.
For ladies’ brunch, opt
for marble platters and
gold-edged spoons.
CHOOSE
CANDLES
Candles create a
lovely ambience.
Choose from
statement candles to
scented ones for that
ethereal vibe.
10 WAYS
TO HOST A
LUXE PARTY
I
f you’ve been itching to play host or show
off your polished hostess skills, now’s
as good a time as any! Whether you’re
celebrating a special occasion or simply
want an excuse to pull out your finest
cutlery, it’s time to throw yourself (and your
guests) a party that’s doused in all things
luxe. Let team Isprava show you how it’s done,
in 10 simple ways.
FLOWERS FTW
(FOR THE WIN)
Beautiful flowers at
the centre of the table
or positioned in vases
around your home is
an excellent idea. Go
for lilies or an all-white
floral bouquet with
hints of green for a
minimalist bash.
IN{entertainment}
GOOD FOOD
Serve an entrée, main
and dessert for a fancy,
sit-down meal that’ll
blow everyone away.
COCKTAIL HOUR
Plenty of guests means plenty of
alcohol. Add cocktails to the menu,
so that everyone has something
quirky to choose from.
TOKENS OF
LOVE
It’s always sweet to
let your guests leave
with a little something.
Arrange for tiny
boxes of chocolates
or macarons or a
scented candle each
or some of Isprava’s
lovely silver tips tea
to hand out to your
guests as they leave.
POP THE BUBBLY
Having some champagne on stand-by is
never a bad idea. It lifts up the spirit of the
party and weaves in a touch of added chic.
CREATE PHOTO OPS
Turn your party into an Insta-worthy
affair with a photo area complete
with a glitzy backdrop and some fun
props.
MELODIOUS MUSIC
Create a playlist to match the vibe of
your party instead of having a DJ. It’s far
more personalised.

IN{food + travel}
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BITE AT A TIME
She has switched careers, jumped countries
and hopped on to the entrepreneurial wagon,
bringing her passion for food to fruition.
In conversation with Gauri Devidayal on
what it takes to be your own boss, and
follow your own dreams
O
n first glance she seems
demure, but insightful.
Look closely enough
and you see a spark in
her eye that ignites ev-
ery passion and dream
she has. From read-
ing law at university to achieving a chartered
accountancy qualification in London. From
spending the next nine years as a tax consul-
tant with reputed companies like PwC and
KPMG to today being on the way to building
her own delicious food empire—Gauri Devi-
dayal is a true inspiration. For those of you who
do not know her, she is Isprava’s friend, and
founder of everyone’s favourite South Bombay
restaurant,The Table.
How did it all begin? “When I met my hus-
band Jay, he was toying with the idea of open-
ing a restaurant inspired by San Francisco—
where he lived for 15 years. My involvement
was supposed to be limited to helping him
with all the legal and financial aspects.The next
thing I knew, I got more and more involved
in the business, and today he and I jointly
run our F&B company which now includes:
two restaurants, a bakery, a culinary event
space, a catering business and a farm”. Talk
about impressive!
But what’s really inspiring is the way Gauri
loves being an entrepreneur. She truly em-
THE TABLE of
culinary dreams
braces it, with all its positives and challenges.
She quips,“The thrill of taking risks, making
decisions and seeing them translate into a suc-
cessful outcome is inexplicable”. Being your
own boss, apart from the thrills has its benefits
too: it means you can venture into endeavours
outside your typical day to day work. Gauri did
just that with her engaging pod cast show that
she recorded last year: about the making of a
restaurant. She also gets to spend quality time
with her 6-year-old daughter since she can be
flexible about when and where she works from.
But entrepreneurship has its set of chal-
lenges too. And making a switch from the cor-
porate, structured lifestyle can be daunting. “I
think the biggest challenge about moving from
being an employee to a leader is that the buck
stops at you. Earlier I had a boss to fall back on.
Now I am that boss. One has to continuously
be energised to motivate and guide the others.”
Leaders do delegate, but what Gauri quickly
understood is that she needed to know every-
thing about everything, even when she wasn’t
doing everything herself. From HR to finance,
accounting to operations, from business de-
velopment to PR and marketing—it is a steep
learning curve, even if it’s in an industry you
know of or have worked in. And that definitely
wasn’t the case for Gauri, who moved from the
world of finance to the extremely competitive
culinary space. “Although I worked long hours
even in my life as a tax consultant, the long
hours you work as an entrepreneur come from
taking on so much more responsibility and fi-
nancial risk.” Does working with your husband
make it any better? “Of course it sounded like
a fun idea since we were newly wed and we
were happy to spend all the time in the world
together. But it also meant that we never real-
ly switched off from work, and it could some-
times be a challenge to separate the personal
and the professional.”
But if their flagship restaurant, The Table,
is anything to go by—the power culinary cou-
ple are doing wonders! And it’s not just the
amazing food and service, it’s about the entire
experience that is promised to you from the
moment you enter its doors. The Table was
inspired by the food Gauri’s husband Jay was
exposed to during the 15 years he lived in San
Francisco. The idea was to create a casual yet
chic space that momentarily made you forget
where you were, and give you flavourful, in-
gredient-focused comfort food. Now it’s their
ninth year of operations, and we think it is safe
to say it’s won a place in the hearts of both sea-
soned and newbie foodies of the city. Besides
its unique food and drink offerings which have
always reigned in quality, it is the sustained
sense of kind-hearted and intuitive hospitality
that is one of the biggest reasons for the loyalty
that has been garnered over the years.
When asked about travel—Isprava’s favou-
rite topic, Gauri quickly replies, “It is one of
the things Jay and I latched onto about each
other immediately—our love for travel. Most of
our holidays revolve around food.We’re one of
those couples, who as soon as the plan is made,
and possibly even before flights and hotels
are booked, restaurant reservations are on in
full swing. Our travels have definitely inspired
what we’ve done at our establishments, wheth-
er it is the cuisine, chefs who we’ve met and
invited over, or the ingredients and even the
crockery shopping!”
Point noted. Our next trip is surely going to
revolve around food! Is yours too?
Farm to Table experience, curated by Gauri

IN{food + travel}
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BITE AT A TIME
ly about traditional old soul Goan feasts jam
packed with masalas influenced by the spices
the Portuguese brought from Africa, Brazil
and Portugal. Not much has changed when it
comes to the flavourful masalas. And even to-
day old-school delicacies shine bright in the
kitchen, sometimes adjusted with minor nu-
ances. But what has changed is the beat, tem-
po and magnitude of things. Nine years ago
there would be a seldom few hotspots to eat
at. Today however, Goa is revered as a foodies
destination, for both the chef and the tourist,
riddled with many brilliant restaurants, bars,
cafes and even local street side spots. Natalia
plans to add her new food studio to that list
very soon. But right now she spills the beans
on all things yummy....
Natalia’s favourite local delicacies decoded
• Clams Xacuti featuring masala with star anise,
cumin, green chillies and fresh coconut. Xacuti
is a Goan masala with a unique blend of spices.
This is also Natalia’s top dish for
the perfectly balanced, and combined
ingredients which gives it its incredibly
unique taste.
• Prawns Xeque Xeque featuring masala
with tomatoes, chillies and coconut. You
may not be able to pronounce xeque xe-
que, but Natalia ensures you will surely
love it. This exotic dish goes well with
another Goan speciality called Sannas—
white fluffy bread made of coconut, finely
ground rice flour mixed with toddy, fer-
mented and then steamed!Wash it all down
I
f you ever meet Natalia, you’ll fall
in love with her personality as fast
as you will with the food she prom-
ises you at her Siolim outpost, Rare
Republic. But what’s even more
intriguing is her profound appre-
ciation for the flavours, textures
and old-soul kind of food found in Goa. She
confesses love-at-first-taste when it comes to
these lesser-known Goan delicacies. Better
still, she leaves behind all the crumbs to get
you tempted for your next, imminent Goan cu-
linary adventure.
Natalia first moved to Goa in 2010 and in-
stantly got hooked to its food scene. Back then
it was predominant-
Goa is a land of many secrets, including its food. Spaniard
Natalia Suarez, restaurant owner of Rare Republic and a nearly
decade-long resident of Goa tells us about her many revelations
over the years. From the best xacuti to how reacheado inspires
new recipes at her home all the time
Indulging indigenously in
GOA
with a well-aged porto wine!
• Fish Reacheado, a dish prepared by slicing a
cross section of the fish and stuffing it with red
hot tangy chilli masala called ‘reacheado’. Rea-
cheado itself is made from red chillies, spices,
ginger, garlic and ground with malt vinegar.
The fish is then pan fried. Natalia got so in-
spired by reacheado, that she created her own
version: a black ink idly with reacheado squids
and a yellow bell peppers mousse. Is your
mouth watering yet?
• Coconut puff pastry called Nevri.These sweet
dumplings are made of flour and stuffed with
coconut, sugar, poppy seeds, cardamom and al-
monds. Natalia gives us her stamp of approval
on this divine indulgence!
• Bolo Sans Rival—a Goan holiday cake that
has no rivals—and its name says it all! This
rich and delicate layered cake features butter
cream, meringue, cashew nut and coconut
sandwiched together in beautiful layers. You
may have to go back a few generations to get
any acknowledgement when you refer to this
rectangular dessert. But the search will be
worth it!
Natalia’s favourite street eateries and the
things to have
• Uncle Ji Bajis for fresh, home grown produce
• Baba Ji in Mapusa for the home made puff
pastry
• Tedja for the fish curry and delicious clams
• Amanzio in Siolim fish market for the xacuti
• Hotel Sagar in Vagator for home made bhaji
• Just Cafe Royale Panjim for afternoon tea
Natalia Suarez

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