Fashion designer JJ Valaya has always had a fertile imagination and his affinity for craftsmanship can be traced back to age seven. One day, while moving houses, a young Valaya discovered a rusty metal serving tray in a pile of discarded objects and quietly handed it to one of the local craftsmen working at his home, asking him to inscribe a pattern he’d created onto the tray. The finished piece filled Valaya with such indescribable joy that it made him sprint towards his mother, only to fall face-first and break his front teeth. The chipped teeth remain, but so does his childlike curiosity. That curiosity would go on to define an enduring fashion legacy spanning 34 years.
A black-and-white panel, specially commissioned by Valaya, serves as a timeless tribute to his signature Chevron motif. The wooden cabinet, featuring a horse-head detail, is from his personal belongings, while the furniture is from Valaya Home.
Ashish Sahi
Valaya’s oeuvre has long celebrated indulgence and layered maximalism. He launched his eponymous label in 1992, reimagined couture in the ’90s and unveiled his flagship store, The World of Valaya, in 2022. His larger-than-life campaigns have set a benchmark for Indian designers. The patterns, prints, colours, textiles and artistry that define Valaya’s work draw on Persian and Central Asian influences, Silk Road and spice route motifs, princely Indian iconography and archival furnishings. These themes extend into the 7,200- square-foot mansion in Gurugram that he shares with his wife, daughter and their two canine companions, Casper and Cooper.
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A black veneer wall of curios anchors the living room. The Chinese pottery, a gift from a friend, adds a personal touch. Striking handwritten calligraphy from Istanbul hangs on the wall, accompanied by a human-scale artwork. The lamp is sourced from a flea market in France.
Ashish Sahi