Chennai Boutique Collage Now Has an Art Deco Address

The college has a new address. After sitting pretty on Grimes Road for 19 years, the multi-designer boutique has now found comfort in a 70-year-old home in Nungambakkam. The combination of rich embroidery, solid patterns and skillful weaving adorns the new venue which is rich in art Deco Style. While the grand home with its lush garden gives the feeling of stepping into a bygone era, the modern interior architecture instantly provides a contemporary feel.

For Latha, who co-founded this store with her sister Priya Vasudevan, “planning and then working” has never been an option as she believes in just going with the flow. “I had never planned on choosing this house in particular. I just looked at it and fell in love with it. Here, from every window you can see a tree, which I think adds to the beauty of this place. Extends. I haven’t even reworked. This house is great. Lots of elements have been retained, like the ceiling and floor. There’s also a wall where the bricks are from the 50s. It just kind of created a wow factor is,” she says.

A unique feature of this 4,000 sq ft store is that each room has a different character. “For example, rooms with travel fabrics give a sense of relaxation. Another room shows textiles in cotton and chanderi. There’s a room for Indian wear and one that has a modern brunch look. We’ve always been good with the curation We don’t. “I don’t like to be judgmental,” says Lata.

Designer Collection in Collage | photo credit: special arrangement

over the past few years, collage Aesthetics have evolved. “We started off by being minimalist, contemporary and stark. Now we would like to be seen as a warm, slow and experiential space,” she says.

Like clothes, Lata’s love for crafts also gets absorbed in the decoration. The store carries metal furniture and crafts from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. “I did not want furniture from the showroom. Every piece of furniture here is from Moradabad, except the two sofas in Barcelona,” says Lata.

Apart from clothing, works by Sam Madhu, a Chennai-born Berlin-based graphic artist and Latha’s daughter, add color to the space.

The collage features works from around 40 designers, including renowned names like Payal Khandwala, Sukhet Dheer, Amrich, Sail Design and Pero and new ones like Itrah, Paisley Pop (jewellery), Inez, Maku and Dialog.

Lata says, “Almost all our designers work with pan-India craftsmen, weavers and artisans, Maku is associated with weavers and dyers from Bengal, 11 11 SAIL Designs works with artisans in Kutch, Payal Khandwala works with women weavers. works together, while Suket Dhir employs weavers from Banaras.

Art by Sam Madhu | photo credit: special arrangement

“Our thought process changed during COVID-19, a deep appreciation for textiles, handmade clothing was what we were leaning towards. Since everyday style was already our core belief on fashion and trends, we now wanted to go for something more permanent, a little bit vintage and classical,” signs Lata.

The college is located 6, Rutland Gate 4th Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai. Prices start from ₹4,000.