An outfit by Aroka | photo credit: Angus Guite
A few years back, a real-estate business family (we’ll call them the Sharmas) found a barren piece of land in Gurgaon, just 32 km from central Delhi. After decades of investing in commercial, luxury residential, microbreweries, hospitality and co-working spaces, the idea of an immersive retail space was something that got them excited. And so, The Gallery at 32nd Place in Gurgaon was conceived. Built in the style of European bazaars, it exudes an air of modern savoir-faire, catering to the elite as well as the style-curious.
From the collection of Antar Agni | photo credit: Angus Guite
At the beginning of the hub there are forty restaurants and cafes. There’s something for everyone – reasonable crowds are seen at the hugely popular chaat-centric restaurants of Bhavan, Kainaj Contractor and Rahul Dua, and queues are expected outside family eateries like Karnataka Cafe. Gurgaon has quickly become a hub of sprawling and ultra-curated venues. 32nd is meant to be a fun place where you come for lunch and browse around with an original, freshly brewed coffee in hand. It boasts of a vibrant terrace area (to experience, Gurgaon AQI [Air Quality Index] ready) and open garden area for events and fun musical evenings. But in fact, it is their curated fashion space ‘The Galleries’, spread over 40,000 sq ft, that has got all the fashionistas excited.
An outfit by Almost Gods | photo credit: Angus Guite
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“Several new-age Indian designers have recently showcased at international fashion weeks including Milan, Paris and New York. Brands are trying to position themselves globally and need a location that reflects this. Dhruv Sharma, Co-Founder shared on the inauguration of this huge entertainment centre. Estimated to be around 1,74,000 sq ft, Sharma intends to build it as an anti-mall. “Think Le Marais, Chelsea Market, Soho or Dover Street Market. That’s what we wanted to create for the Indian consumer.” adds Shireen Sharma, sister and co-founder.
Showcase by Ka-Sha | photo credit: Angus Guite
Once you cross over to the spacious restaurant, you’ll be greeted by a stately, high-rise building with a Ficus microcarpa bonsai. Rumor has it, it cost ₹10 lakh to achieve. It’s not the only giant green block in space. The plants and landscape sections in the gallery including bonsai are received from nurseries on the banks of the river Godavari. It’s a huge investment on their part to make sure their shopping places feel like sanctuaries. They are not looking for a rushed sale, instead they are hoping to make your shopping experience as enjoyable as a walk in the park. “The space allows each designer to showcase their individual aesthetics and narratives, in turn inviting a discerning audience,” explains Urvashi Kaur, one of the designers on the gallery roster.
Gallery 32nd | Photo Credit: Mayank Khurana
Once you reach Bonsai, you’ll see shops built like mini-art galleries. Large windows, endless whiteness and generous dollops of sunshine permeate every store. Currently, the 19 brands present include disruptive and exciting names like Almost Gods, Antar Agni, Aroka, Chord, Hannan, Ituvana, Kasha, Mineralo, Khara Cotton, Coytoy, Leh, Nadi Nadi, Odd to Odd, Ruby’s Organics, Studio Medium, Are included. Sublime Life, Tiger Marron, Urvashi Kaur, Yum and Yavi.
“With Gallery, we hope to be a showcase for brands that have a similar level of real story, community and global affluence, but are still in their pre-discovery phase,” concluded Dhruv.