Designer Saloni Lodha on the places that inspire her

De Vera, New York

The store is a treasure chest: cabinets bursting with objects chosen solely for their beauty by owner Federico de Vera, who travels around the globe hand-picking them. I love stumbling across rare jewels and ceramics here.

Marlene Wetherell, New York

I’m drawn to vintage stores and one of my favourites is definitely Marlene Wetherell in Chelsea, New York. I like stepping back into different eras and exploring pieces that reflect different moments in history. I love that each piece holds its own story, and the selection at this store is always carefully curated by Marlene herself.

Pydhonie Market, Mumbai

Ever since my student days I have loved Mumbai’s Pydhonie market, with its cacophonous maze of textiles and embroidery shops, hidden down winding, interconnecting lanes. I love hunting down old textiles, especially pieces embroidered with real silver or gold.

Nilufar Depot, Milan

You can’t help but feel inspired by Nina Yashar and her Nilufar Depot in Milan, which showcases a collection of vintage and contemporary design pieces from around the world. It is an epicentre of style and function.

Ladakh, India

Located in the Himalayas, Ladakh is my happy place. You can’t help but feel immediately immersed in the visual beauty and the special spiritual energy of Ladakh. Visiting Alchi Buddhist Monastery was definitely one of the highlights of my life.

National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

I love visiting museums when I travel. The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo museum hosts a permanent collection and showcases numerous contemporary Japanese artists, each artwork deeply rooted in Japanese culture. What’s better, the museum is located within the beautiful Kitanomaru Park—a lovely place to walk around, getting lost in your own thoughts.

MoMA, New York

I have recently visited the newly reopened MoMA. I was totally mesmerised by Rainforest V, a sound installation in the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Studio, a brand new space dedicated to performance, music, sound and spoken word. Rainforest V, conceived by pianist and composer David Tudor and realised by Composers Inside Electronics, comprises everyday objects suspended in the air and fitted with sound transducers, each element producing a unique sound to evoke the feeling of the natural world. I walked among the objects totally captivated by the sounds. Tudor’s first Rainforest work (1968) served as the musical score for choreographer Merce Cunningham’s dance of the same name.

This story previously appeared on VanityFair.com