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ARCHITECTURE MEETS COUTURE

Kunal Rawal Opens New Mehrauli Flagship in Delhi and Unveils Three New Couture Capsules

Kunal Rawal has expanded his retail footprint with the opening of a new flagship in Mehrauli, Delhi, marking the designer’s fifth store in India and second in the capital. More than a luxury retail destination, the space serves as an immersive expression of the Kunal Rawal universe, where architecture, engineering, craftsmanship, and contemporary Indian menswear come together in a singular experience.

For Rawal, Delhi has always been integral to the brand’s journey. The city’s distinctive relationship with celebration, culture, and occasion dressing has long resonated with his creative philosophy, making Mehrauli a natural setting for this latest chapter.

An Immersive New Home in Mehrauli

Designed in collaboration with acclaimed architect Rooshad Shroff, the flagship represents the fifth project between the duo and their most ambitious undertaking to date. Anchored in Green Baroda marble, the store has been conceived as a monolithic environment where floors, walls, and furniture appear carved from a singular material palette. Contrasting this sense of permanence is an oxidized gold ceiling that responds to changing light throughout the day, creating a dynamic interplay between solidity and movement.

Functionality is as central to the design as aesthetics. Motorized garment racks disappear into the ceiling and return when required, display tables move along integrated tracks, and mirrors subtly alter the perception of the space. Rather than concealing the mechanics, the flagship celebrates them, transforming utility into a defining element of the brand’s design language.

The experience begins with a dramatic entrance corridor lined with Morse code-inspired mirrors that create fragmented reflections before revealing the larger space beyond. Custom lighting systems shift the atmosphere from day to evening, while hand-engraved marble detailing, sculptural brass accents, and digital installations reinforce the idea of the flagship as a living, evolving environment rather than a conventional retail store.

Speaking about the launch, Rawal described Delhi as a natural extension of the brand, citing the city’s unique energy and relationship with dressing and celebration as a constant source of inspiration. He noted that every detail within the store, from the marble finishes to the integrated mechanisms, has been designed with equal attention to how it functions and how it feels.

Three Couture Capsules, Three Distinct Narratives

Coinciding with the flagship opening is the unveiling of three new couture capsules—KR Hybrid Minds, KR Box Pleat, and KR Black—each offering a distinct perspective on the evolving language of contemporary Indian menswear.

KR Hybrid Minds explores the intersection of innovation and adaptability through engineered construction and versatile silhouettes. Traditional forms such as the bandhgala and kurta are reimagined through layered design techniques that create visual complexity while maintaining lightness and fluidity. The collection reflects a contemporary approach to occasion dressing, where craftsmanship and versatility work hand in hand.

KR Box Pleat transforms a classic tailoring detail into a defining creative language. Sculptural folds, controlled volumes, and subtle tonal transitions introduce movement and dimension to the garments, creating silhouettes that feel architectural yet remarkably wearable. Through its exploration of proportion and structure, the collection demonstrates how tailoring can become a form of artistic expression.

The most personal of the three offerings, KR Black, is rooted in the designer’s enduring relationship with monochrome dressing. Built around the idea of black as a constant rather than simply a color, the capsule explores texture, restraint, and craftsmanship through layered tonal dressing. Rich embroideries, nuanced finishes, and refined silhouettes reveal the depth and sophistication that can emerge from a singular palette.

The Continuing Evolution of Kunal Rawal

Together, the Mehrauli flagship and the three couture capsules represent more than a store opening or a seasonal launch. They reflect the continued evolution of the Kunal Rawal universe—a world where craftsmanship meets innovation, functionality becomes an aesthetic statement, and Indian menswear is continually reimagined through a contemporary lens.

As occasion wear continues to evolve, Rawal’s latest offerings demonstrate a growing confidence in pushing boundaries while remaining rooted in the traditions that inspire his work. The result is a vision of menswear that feels modern, considered, and unmistakably forward-looking.

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