It has been a long journey for Ravi Chawla. Starting from haute couture in 1981 to silverware in 1991 and then beauty in 2001, Chawla has expanded and diversified Ravissant well. But not in a chaotic or haphazard manner! Whatever segment he picked up, he worked on it till perfection and then went on to the next one. The brand story has been built in a very streamlined and neat manner.
Sitting across me casually with a benign smile, his humbleness astounded me. For a man who has built one of India’s first luxury retail brands and sold it across the world in the finest salons of Milan, Paris, Tokyo and India, he was absolutely sans any ego.
Talking about the inspiration behind their recently launched wedding collection, Chawla says, “There are so many times, when you forget about some or the other ritual and festivities that form a part of a typical Hindu marriage. At least I do. So we commissioned four designers and told them to create a complete book on the various festivities which are a part of a wedding. Then according to the book, we created appropriate gifts for each occasion as per Hindu significance. The running theme in our collection is the romance of Radha-Krishna.”
The silverware wedding collection includes beautiful thalis, bowls and boxes. One extremely beautiful piece was a tilak thali with long standing flower stems. The yellow, green coloured flowers had open petals in the shape of a small bowl where you can place the rice, roli and other things required for the ceremony. This masterpiece has been created in a limited edition of 25 pieces priced at INR 2.5 lakhs each.
Other pieces in their latest sterling silver collection take inspiration from the art of paper folding and cutting. Indeed, when you see the collection, the fine lines and sleek curves remind you of the countless artworks you have created as a child by randomly folding and cutting the paper. Ravissant’s designs, though, are of course not random, but well thought out and executed. The collection of seven tea sets for seven different days of the week was particularly delightful. Soft folds, styled overlays and salvers add a quirky touch to the set. Fine and laborious hand piercing chasing, engraving and enameling have been used to create ribbed texture and flowers in the entire collection. Precious and semi-precious embellishments add to the glam factor. The beautiful silver collection ranges from INR 5,000-6,00,000.
The bridal ensemble uses fine muslins, handloom brocades, woven silks, luxurious rich silk and silk blends, velvets, lace, silk ikkat, and net in colours like rich reds, pinks, burnt orange and sunset yellow, muted beiges, white and ivory. Threadwork, sequins, crystal and intricate embroidery give the saris a traditional feel even though the designs were modern and contemporary. Ranging from INR 50,000 to 3,00,000, the bright and earthy collection will be a beautiful addition to any bride’s trousseau.
The upholstery collection is as colourful as their bridal wear. The entire collection is made from fine silks in various shades to add colour to your space. The range has been enhanced by sophisticated patchwork with taping and quilting. Including bed covers, cushion covers, quilts, bolsters and more, the collection reminds one of the past days of fine workmanship.
Surprisingly, this is the first time that Ravissant has launched a Wedding collection despite the wedding season being a huge market for them. Chawla gives the reason, “Our business is customization. We make special pieces and gifts depending on an individual’s request. And of course we don’t display those pieces because they have been made for a certain family. We can create anything for our customers, starting from special wedding invites, to gifts to sweet boxes. We mainly believe in making loyal customers and building relationships.” No wonder that Ravissant has a deep relationship with 25,000 families who have been coming to Ravissant for all their wedding requirements. That’s the secret behind the merry twinkle in Mr Chawla’s eyes…
