The Rise of Indian Minimalist Fashion and Decor

More and more Indians are turning to minimalist design in their clothing, jewelry and decor.

Holi Jouvert by NorBlack NorWhite. (Photo: NorBlack NorWhite)

Minimalism? What the hell is that?

For many years, I didn’t understand the word. I mean, I knew what it meant, but didn’t know what it was about. I fell in love with it exactly four years ago, while working for the Indian edition of a French interiors magazine.

At first, I thought it extremely stupid for these celebrity “interior experts” to prefer plain, jaded furniture in place of leather sofas with button tufting – which are far more glamorous, any donkey will know.

But as I started reading the translated Italian text that accompanied the pictures, I began to understand it more and more.

Minimalism was less. Not more. Minimalism was the opposite of vulgar. Minimalism was not about being piercingly sharp, it was about being gentle. Minimalism was breaking away from the noise. Visual noise. Minimalism was enjoyment in things, not for their appearance but for their purpose.

Think this will have less resonance in colour-indulgent India? Think again. More and more Indians are turning to minimalism as a design philosophy.

(Dress by Bungalow 8, Jewellery by MISHO Designs, and quilted blouse by 431-88 By Shweta Kapur)

Many are embracing minimalistic decor and style; in their homes, and their style. And designers and brands are only too happy to oblige.

Bungalow 8, Ogaan and Pero have been at the forefront of the minimalistic movement in India. Indie label Bhane, Eka by Rina Singh and Nor Black Nor White have been doing some pretty good work too.

In jewellery, there’s MISHO Designs and the curated selection available at Bombay Electric. While in decor, there’s India-based brand, Objectry and Limon, among others.

In the past few years, there has been a surge in minimalist aesthetics being patronised by the fashion blogging community in India, which is probably no mere coincidence since this is also the time when Instagram’s popularity has exploded, popularising and making minimalism universal.

Nevertheless, the theory of reductivism that originated in the Japanese zen philosophy has landed on our shores, and how.

Saree by Anavila. (Photo: Anavila)

The most resounding sentiment on minimalistic decor was conveyed by industrial designer Dieter Rams who said this about interior design, “Less but better”.

The blog, An Indian Summer has been diligently documenting minimalistic decor in India and elsewhere, creating elaborate mood boards and explaining in wonderful prose, the philosophy and aesthetics behind a particular look.

(Minimalistic decor; frames and pop corn container by Objectry). (Photo: Objectry)

What I personally love about minimalism is that it is impersonal – it doesn’t express too much about yourself, not when you don’t want to. Minimalism also destructs the word sexy. It thrashes aside the idea of figure-hugging silhouettes, meant to make you look appealing – a far cry from pop culture’s standards of sexy.

And that’s okay. It is terribly degrading to look at another’s version of hot all the time, anyway.

And last but not in the least, that it is accessible. It doesn’t give illusions of being perfect; unattainable. It simply gives a sense of honesty – stripping down an object to its barest form.

(Minimal Indian detailing + Contemporary cuts by Rashmi Varma at Bombay Electric; dresses by Bhane)

So there you have it, minimalism 2.0 is all about clean lines, great fabrics and interesting proportions. Given the aesthetic pleasures minimalism provides, one can certainly say less is more, and less is certainly better.