Aquazzura’s first store in India recreates the mood of an Italian garden

Marie-Anne Oudejans has a thing for colour. “They create a vibrant beautiful atmosphere that tells stories and makes it attractive and exciting for the clients,” says the Jaipur-based Dutch designer whose work can be seen at the Bar Palladio in the Rajasthan capital to the Kama Ayurveda store in London. Now, Oudejans has brought her immersive aesthetics to Aquazzura’s new store in Delhi which marks the luxury accessories brand’s debut in India.

Founded by Colombian designer Edgardo Osorio in 2011, the Florence-headquartered Aquazzura is known for its towering heels and a clientele that extends from Meghan Markle to Amal Clooney. The brand’s arrival in India follows Osorio’s admiration for the country—he is a repeat visitor and calls it his “happy place”. “I envisioned the idea of creating an indoor shoe garden, like a fairy tale world where clients can enter and immerse themselves in a new kind of shopping experience,” says the designer, adding that the Aquazzura’s offices in Villa Corsi Salviati inspired the idea. The mediaeval-era villa was the site for one of the first Italian gardens, built in the 17th century.

Located in The Chanakya mall, the store—built in partnership with DS Luxury Retail Limited—is marked by tall arched doors and windows which serve double duty as displays for heels and bags. A bright aqua hue—signature to the brand—calls for attention from the interiors. To recreate the environment of a garden in a brick and mortar space, Oudejans started with creating trellis arches on the shelves and the façade–these arches are among the designer’s favourite features in the store. “We hand painted the ceiling with a trellis bamboo design and filled it with summer flowers and fruits, and also decorated the trellis shelving with garland motifs,” she adds. “The consoles have been decorated with stone engraved shells, as you can often see in Italian gardens.”

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Painted oranges and lemons are ensconced among leafy Vines; Osorio also highlights the additions of pineapples, a symbol of Aquazzura, in the scenery. At the centre of the store, a three-tiered plant stands as an emblem of the garden, planted in an urn atop a black and white striped base. The monochromatic detail also lines the floors and panels across the store. From the ceilings to the centrepiece, the placement and designs brings to mind an earlier collaboration between Aquazzura and Oudejans – the brand’s store in Capri, which opened in 2020, with similar use of tropical fruits, stripes and sculptural elements.

In keeping with her oeuvre, Oudejans–who has also worked on Aquazzura’s London and St. tropez stores—has collaborated with Indian artisans to create the interiors and vivid scenes in the space, and the stone shell consoles. “I want to also mention the beautiful carpets by Jaipur Rugs handwoven by local artisans,” she adds. Spread across the centre of the store, the carpet mimics the aqua hue and comes in a plain weave save for a thick black stripe close to the borders.

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India is among a number of key destinations in Asia where the brand is expanding its retail presence and Osorio is keen to “consider the combination of the Aquazzura’s aesthetic with the stylistic influences of each place.” Collaborating with local artisanal talent offers Aquazzura a meaningful way to engage with India on its entry. The lush, fruity garden setting also seems apt not only for the brand’s storytelling, but also for a city like Delhi with its many parks and gardens. “With this new opening the brand awareness will surely grow in the Indian market, it will be a way to let clients experience the world of Aquazzura and the quality of the products firsthand in an environment that feels Italian, special and inspiring,” says Osorio.