The best and lasting impression of Asmita Marwa’s studio lies in how it makes use of its limited space. It’s a modest 240sqft room; the mirrors and the high ceiling make the studio seem roomier than it actually is. The designer established the studio 12 years ago and wanted her work space to narrate a story — a story of her label.
Sewing machines that were handed down to her from her grandmother and mother, colourful threads, an old pair of boots and even a belt form the studio accents. Several pairs of scissors are also part of the décor.
At one corner, overlooking the large window towards the garden, is a wooden trunk that belonged to her great grandmother. “She brought her trousseau in this trunk,” says Asmita.
Artefacts that speak about personal memories accentuate the studio where she wants her clients to calm down, sip some tea and understand the urban chic her garments stand for. Unlike a retail store, a designer studio is not one where purchases are rushed through. The one-to-one interaction, Asmita feels, has to help the visitor understand the label.
“My garments are travel inspired and I wanted the studio to be like a blank canvas,” she says. Asmita is partial to white walls and in the studio, these white walls and offset by wooden browns from the racks and the limited furniture.
The ceiling is shaped like a pyramid. One wall draws inspiration from Hyderabad’s architecture with the cotton-steel structure bearing jali work.
Designed by well known city architect Aamir Sharma, the studio took shape in a seamless manner. “We stuck to white and wooden finish and used no other colour. The only colour that’s here are from my garments. I preferred cotton-steel for its unique texture and its deep brown that’s acquired when it’s treated and oxidised,” says Asmita.
Separates in classic silhouettes that transcend fickle seasonal trends are what she’s known for. Asymmetrical indigo khadi dress with the kite motif that’s been a favourite among her long-standing clients, breezy tunics from her Bhindi collection are among the several pieces that adorn the studio.
Dressed in a semi-formal shirt dress and boots, Asmita looks around the studio with pride. On one wall, there are photographs of actors Shriya Saran, Rana Daggubati, Siddharth and Nagarjuna among other models taken years ago, wearing her earlier collections.
A small area with a large mirror works as a compact changing room. “Earlier this portion was a connecting link between my home and the studio. To make the studio more spacious, I closed down that path to the house and made it a changing room,” she explains.
At one corner of the changing area is a pair of wedge heels, incidentally, in sandy beige that complements the wooden finish of the mirror frame.
An iPod dock and face sculptures are the other elements that camouflage themselves into the studio space.
(Asmita Marwa’s studio is on Road no.46, Jubilee Hills)