The designer Alykhan Velji returns to his roots for Mobilia

Le designer Alykhan Velji, basé à Calgary au Canada, a renoué avec ses racines indiennes pour créer sa nouvelle ligne de mobilier Modern India, pour Mobilia. Composée de 15 pièces, la collection comporte un banc en bois, des tables basses, un miroir, une console ou encore des sièges inspirés de l’architecture et des motifs indiens.

A design inspired by Indian culture

For his latest furniture collection, Alykhan Velji visited the land of his ancestors in India to soak up the culture and local know-how. He returned from his travels with an eye for colour, typically Indian exotic motifs and fine materials. For example, the designer used marble as the main material in the creation of coffee tables and a console, in a nod to the Taj Mahal, which is entirely hand-sculpted in marble.

“I love marble in all of its forms so we introduced a range of coloured marbles to the collection to add even more depth and character,” explains Alykhan Velji. The metal mesh chair back is also reminiscent of the weaving on traditional Indian baskets, while the rounded lines subtly evoke the local architecture.

A mix of tradition and modernity

While Alykhan Velji immersed himself in Indian culture to create his latest collection, he nonetheless wished to add a contemporary touch with modern lines or the use of more unexpected materials such as brass or glass.

He has also produced his furniture in up-to-date shades that fit seamlessly into interiors. “I wanted to design a collection for Mobilia where all the items of furniture dialogue together, but the pieces can also work on their own,” concludes Alykhan Velji.