In an extraordinary synthesis of architectural preservation and artisanal heritage, India’s foremost producer of hand-knotted carpets, Jaipur Rugs, has opened its largest luxury flagship store to date: a 20,000-square-foot experience center situated within the historic Empire Mills compound in Girangaon, central Mumbai.
Girangaon—literally translating to ‘the village of mills’—was once the thriving heartbeat of Mumbai’s legendary cotton textile industry during the 19th and 20th centuries. By choosing this location, Jaipur Rugs pays direct homage to the city’s weaving past while asserting the modern vitality of Indian handcraft on the global luxury stage.
Architectural Concept by Studio Roar
The flagship was envisioned not as a standard commercial showroom, but as a sensory pilgrimage. Designed by Dubai-based multidisciplinary studio Roar, led by prominent interior architect Pallavi Dean:
- Preservation: The design meticulously preserves the authentic industrial bones of the former warehouse, including its raw Victorian steel trusses, soaring double-height pitched roofs, and clerestory window glazing that bathes the interiors in natural daylight.
- Narrative Journey: Guests are welcomed by a dramatic suspended ceiling installation of sculptural metal birds in flight, symbolizing artistic freedom and the migration of handcrafted Indian design across borders.
“We didn’t want to design another showroom; we wanted to create a journey. The building already had a powerful identity, the steel structure, the pitched roof, the clerestory light and the memory of its textile past. Our design draws on weaving through ideas of repetition, rhythm and connection.”
— Pallavi Dean, Founder & Creative Director, Roar
Live Looms and the Living Tradition
Unlike conventional luxury boutiques where the making is concealed behind polished paneling, the Mumbai flagship brings the artisan to the forefront:
- Working Weavers: Visitors can observe skilled rural artisans actively working on authentic vertical pit-looms positioned inside the store, hand-knotting intricate patterns strand by strand.
- Interactive Discovery: Metal mesh partitions provide open sightlines between luxurious customer lounges and active weaving stations. A towering vertical rug archive allows patrons to inspect thousands of weaves across various densities, knot counts, and natural dyes.
Signature Collections and Visionary Voices
The space showcases Jaipur Rugs’ acclaimed Manchaha and Freedom Manchaha collections, along with collaborations with designers including Gauri Khan, Pavitra Rajaram, Vinita Chaitanya, Peter D’Ascoli, Kavi, Gurjeet Singh, and Her Highness Bodour Al Qasimi.
“Empire Mills carries the memory of Mumbai’s textile heritage, while Jaipur Rugs carries the living tradition of the Indian loom. Bringing the two together felt incredibly meaningful. Luxury retail is changing; customers are looking for provenance, meaning, and an experience that stays with them.”
— N.K. Chaudhary, Founder, Jaipur Rugs
Originally reported by Indian Retailer.
