Stylera

The brief was to create the first-of-its-kind multi brand retail space in a new and rapidly developing part of Mumbai, where a store of this scale and vision had not existed before. Our aim was to build a platform dedicated to showcasing contemporary Indian brands within a space that felt futuristic, bold, and deeply rooted in the dynamic retail evolution of the city.

We approached the design through form, color, and massing—crafting displays that went beyond function to become sculptural art pieces in themselves. The intention was to create a store where visitors were drawn in by the vibrant palette and unexpected shapes, ensuring that every corner felt fresh, distinct, and memorable.

Custom-designed elements defined the spatial experience: we developed bespoke racks finished in an ombré effect, where pinks and purples gently signaled the womenswear section and blues and greens denoted menswear. Curved perforated metal screens served as subtle dividers, giving each brand its own unique zone while keeping the larger space visually connected.

At the heart of the store, the cashier table was conceived as an illuminated double-glazed glass box, creating an ethereal floating effect that added to the store’s futuristic identity. We introduced playful, photogenic moments such as a serpentine sunglass display that visitors could move through and around—blurring the line between product display and spatial sculpture. Complementing this were round, free-standing cosmetic displays, each internally lit to highlight the products like jewels.

The shoe wall became a visual focal point: circular niches finished in multicolor chrome laminate sheets displayed each pair, creating a striking, reflective backdrop. To ensure comfort and fluidity, we custom-designed furniture like double-sided sofas—allowing visitors to sit and try on shoes from one side, while others could wait comfortably on the other—and digitally printed purple glass tables that echoed the store’s color story.

For bag displays, we wrapped stepped pedestals around existing columns, which we clad in mirror to visually lighten their mass. In an area with multiple columns, circular floating shelves were installed around each column, paired with bespoke origami-inspired light installations crafted in collaboration with Hatsu, bringing color and a sense of wonder overhead.

Recognizing the influence of social media, we created an “influencer lounge”—a dedicated content-creation space where bloggers could shoot photos and videos. Here, ombré vinyl-wrapped walls combined with playful pink and concrete furniture to create an eye-catching, contemporary set.

Every design detail was tailored to draw people in, ensuring that the functional requirements of product display seamlessly merged with the aesthetic ambition of making the displays themselves stand out as art. To keep the focus on these bold interventions, we used a simple grey tile for flooring and left the ceiling open with a flexible track lighting system—allowing the displays to remain the true stars of the space.

Overall, the project embodies a vision of retail as an immersive, ever-evolving experience: a futuristic, artful platform for Indian brands in the heart of Mumbai’s new retail landscape.

Stylera by SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS in India won the WA Award Cycle 51. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.