S2 Ep1: The Design Pataki Podcast |Designing for Global Identity, Nappa Dori's Expansion beyond Borders

In this episode, Design Pataki sits down with Alice Cicolini and Revathi Kant to explore their collaboration — Lhasa for Zoya. Rooted in Tibetan architecture, spiritual symbolism, and cross-cultural exchange, the collection is a bold reimagining of what wearable art can be. Through this conversation, we uncover how history, ornament, and design converge to create pieces that are both intimate and architectural.

“The devil lies in the details,” says Supratik Datta, Head of Design at SD Corp, the mind behind Mumbai’s most iconic landmarks —from the Imperial Tower to the upcoming Imperial i. In this episode, he joins Esha Gupta, Founder of Design Pataki, to unpack the nuances of what it means to craft iconic spaces in a transforming cityscape. From designing with authenticity, embracing ‘livable luxury,’ to the brilliance behind linear layouts, Datta decodes the art of designing spaces rooted in mindful urbanism.

Gautam Sinha, the Founder and Creative Director of Nappa Dori, drives the brand's visionary creativity. Renowned for propelling Nappa Dori from a single store in Delhi to over 12 locations, his design ethos merges Indian heritage with international aesthetics. With a background in fashion accessories and a love for leather, Sinha's approach reflects minimalism and detail-oriented craftsmanship. He epitomizes a new generation of Indian designers with globally acclaimed products, including the popular Café Dori concept.

Subodh Gupta is one of India’s leading contemporary artists. His works have been exhibited in the most prestigious art fairs and museums across the globe - including Centre Pompidou and the Victoria & Albert Museum. He is best known for his incredible sculptural works made of household metal objects such as kitchen utensils, lunch boxes, and cookware, and his work highlights the socio-economic landscape of India and cultural transitions. Currently, Subodh is showcasing his new Installations at the iconic Le Bon Marche in Paris which is the first ever department store in the world. Titled Sangam, the exhibition will be on display until February 19, 2023. Here are a few things we discuss with him - You went to art school in Patna in the 1980s. What was your education like at the time? This is your first time exhibiting at a department store. How did you navigate this, and what inspired the name Sangam? Utensils are a key motif in your art. How do you and your team go about sourcing so many utensils? The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com. To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected]. The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41.

Maneesh Goyal is a New York-based serial entrepreneur. His roots lie in the event marketing industry, where he went on to build one of the industry’s most sought-after creative agencies, MKG. In 2021, Goyal, along with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, established Sona, a contemporary Indian restaurant in the Flatiron District of New York City. Goyal went on to expand his footprint in hospitality by reopening one of New York’s most iconic cocktail dens, Temple Bar followed by the launch of Sona Home with Priyanka early this year. Here are a few things we discuss with him - What differentiates Sona from other Indian or International brands that celebrate the ‘Indian’ experience? Who is your target audience for Sona Home? How has the response been so far? What were yours and Priyanka's individual roles in building both brands? The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41. 

Shruti Shibulal, CEO and Director of Tamara Leisure Experiences found her true calling in hospitality. Shruti is a science graduate from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, USA, who initally took the finance route by working with Merrill Lynch in New York. Today, her growing hospitality group has three brands - The Tamara Resorts, for luxury properties; O by Tamara, for business hotels; and a mid-segment brand called Lilac; as well as four properties in Germany. Shruti strives to make Tamara synonymous with responsible tourism and sustainability.  Here are a few things we discuss with her -  What does responsible tourism mean to you? What are some of the pre pandemic trends and practices that haven’t lasted, and what are the ones that have? What is your take on sustainability and greenwashing in the hospitality industry? Do you think we’re moving towards concrete change? The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41. 

Vikram Goyal is a design pioneer in contemporising traditional Indian motifs. He is the founder of Viya Home, a Delhi-based design and production studio that offers a range of luxury handcrafted products. Committed to the preservation of artisan practices and the country’s cultural heritage, he employed craft methods that are centuries old, once patronized by royal families. Much like his products, his interior design endeavours are hailed as ‘inhabitable works of art’ Here are a few things we discuss with him -  You work primarily with brass, can you tell us what draws you to the material? Is there any new material you are working with, or that has drawn your attention Are there any Indian forms and motifs that are trending in the global market How can designers and consumers be a part of the movement to make sure these art and craft forms don’t go extinct?  The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41. 

Iqrup and Ritika Dhamija, a mother-daughter duo, are founders of the contemporary furniture and decor brand known as Iqrup + Ritz. Iqrup, the brand’s creative brain, was trained in London and has been an interior designer and furniture maker for over 30 years. Ritika, the strategic mind behind Iqrup and Ritz, worked as an investment banker for many years before joining her mother. Since launching, the brand has shipped 1000s of products worldwide. The Iqrup + Ritz collections are a dialogue of the past and present, paying homage to iconic styles and crafts from different periods. The brand works majorly with family-run workshops across the world to make high-quality handcrafted pieces. Here are a few things we discuss with them -  How can we change the narrative around ‘Handcrafted in India’ to reflect the new wave of contemporary craft, and move it away from the previous associations of it being heavily traditional and ornate? What are some of the biggest pros and cons of manufacturing in India?  How can an Indian brand stay afloat amidst the influx of international brands like West Elm, Ikea, and now Pottery Barn? The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41. 

Noelle Kadar graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and has lived and worked in India for well over a decade, with years of international art and design experience. Kadar was the Artistic Director of The Sculpture Park at Madhavendra Palace, Jaipur from 2018- 2020. Since the pandemic, Kadar has helped organize large scale exhibitions. Kadar also consults for Art Dubai and other arts and design institutions. Her focus has always been to facilitate the introduction of Indian contemporary art, craft, and design to other parts of the world, while also bringing international standards for contemporary art, and programming to India. Here are a few things we discuss with her -  How did Jaipur’s creative subculture come about and take on a life of its own?  What are some of the best design and art spots in the city? How is Jaipur’s overarching creative essence different from a city like Mumbai or Delhi?  The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41. 

Hotelier Avijit Singh comes from a legacy of Rajasthani royalty that goes back to the 1600s. His family’s ancestral properties - Mihirgarh, Rohetgarh, and The Rohet House, are now luxury boutique hotels that capture the essence of the regal desert state. Over the past two and a half decades, they have evolved into an exceptional bouquet of experiential properties. These have been recognized with some of the highest Global Awards that the industry bestows. After having worked with hospitality groups like Raffles and Taj, Avijit joined House of Rohet and has been a part of his family legacy since 2015. Here are a few things we discuss with him -  Is heritage hospitality in its Golden Age?  How are millennials reshaping the current trends in luxury travel?  What are some of the ways in which hoteliers can ensure a more holistic, global experience, especially for foreign tourists? How can we merge both luxury and sustainability in the heritage hospitality industry? The Design Pataki Podcast is brought to you by Design Pataki, one of India’s foremost digital magazines on luxury design. For our top editorial stories on art, architecture and interiors, head to www.designpataki.com.  To contact Design Pataki, please email [email protected].  The Design Pataki Podcast is produced in collaboration with Studio41.