Torani's Debut Home Décor Collection With myTrident Is A Love Letter to India

Karan Torani has always understood that nostalgia is a language best spoken in colour. At Bharat Tex 2026, the designer stepped beyond the runway for the first time, translating his signature vocabulary of memory, poetry and Indian craftsmanship into home décor with his debut collection for myTrident. When the opportunity to create a home collection with myTrident emerged, he says there was never a moment of hesitation. "It felt like a kid in a candy store. The idea that I could take all my colours and splash them across a home—that I could actually live with my prints, my bed linen and my stories—really excited me. The joy was bringing the same whimsy, the same stories and the same magic to the way we live."

The collaboration marks a significant moment for myTrident, the home décor arm of the Trident Group, which continues to position itself at the intersection of craft and contemporary Indian design through partnerships with distinctive creative voices. This year also marks the second edition of its collaboration with Shivan & Narresh, reinforcing the brand's commitment to design-led storytelling.

For Neha, partnering with Torani was about introducing a fresh creative perspective to the brand. "Karan is a genius in the way he thinks. He's quirky, he's different, and we wanted to bring that flavour into our collection. We felt it was the right collaboration to add that extra playful element to what we do, and I think it has turned out beautifully. There's a wonderful earthiness to his work. His colour palettes are beautifully balanced, his embroideries are incredibly intricate, and even the way he presents his creations feels effortless and contemporary. Bringing all of those qualities together has given this collection a very distinctive character."

For Torani, however, the project is less about diversification and more about continuity—an extension of the same instinct for storytelling that has defined his fashion label, now unfolding across cushions, drapes and bed linen instead of silhouettes. Rather than seeing the collaboration as a move into a new category, Torani views it as a natural extension of everything his label has always stood for. "With Torani, we've always tried to set the tone of colour, beauty, maximalism and the essence of India coming to life," he says. "For the longest time, I've felt that with the influence of Western ideas, we've become very minimal and very quiet in the way we celebrate or put our homes together. But India is never that country."

For Karan, Indian homes should carry the same exuberance as the country itself. "We are a country of exuberance, eclecticism and stories. It can never be one colour, one community or one religion. That's what truly is India." The collection spans evocative narratives including Jharokha-e-Juloos, Chattri Aur Chhaon, Jashn-e-Dil, Yaadon Ka Pitara, Raat Shabnami and Naani Ghar. Each feels less like a product line and more like a chapter from a personal archive. Jharokha-e-Juloos celebrates India's festivals, colours and traditions through florals, playing-card motifs, ornate borders and patchwork-inspired prints, bringing a vibrant festive spirit into the home. Chattri Aur Chhaon draws inspiration from Indian summers and heirloom chintz, featuring soft florals, birds, arches and hand-painted motifs in a nostalgic palette that reflects warmth, shade and timeless Indian craftsmanship. Jashn-e-Dil takes cues from Indian truck art, wedding processions and carnival lights, combining playful hearts, floral chintz, playing-card motifs and bold geometric patterns in a joyful celebration of India's vibrant spirit. Yaadon Ka Pitara is inspired by cherished childhood memories, featuring hand-painted palms, Heeraman Tota motifs, botanical prints and earthy tones that evoke the warmth of old homes, slow living and treasured family moments. Raat Shabnami recalls moonlit mehfils, ghazals and vintage romance, pairing rich emerald and sapphire hues with delicate florals and booti motifs to create a home filled with warmth, elegance and timeless Indian charm. Meanwhile, Naani Ghar pays tribute to Karan Torani's childhood memories of his nani's home in Bhopal, celebrating nostalgia through hand-painted palms, Heeraman Tota motifs, chintz florals and earthy colours that honour old homes and memories passed down through generations.

We caught up with Karan Torani to talk about bringing the Torani universe into people's homes, the memories that shaped the collection and why maximalism still feels deeply Indian.

What is the design philosophy your creations follow?

KTi: Design, for me, is not linear; it's always been a circle. In design schools and the way people are taught, you're often told to begin with a mood board, then a colour board, then a theory, and eventually arrive at the final product. I don't believe in that. In fact, I'm a complete negator of that approach. I believe anything can inspire you.

For me, all five senses are a source of inspiration. Everything you touch, breathe, eat, feel and hear can become the trigger for a creation. Sometimes it could be listening to a Begum Akhtar ghazal. Sometimes it could be having a chuski. Other times, it could simply be walking barefoot beneath an amaltas tree, and suddenly those yellow blossoms make me want to create an entire yellow collection.

A creator should always be inspired by things that are deeply personal because only then does the design become personal. Everything you see in this collection—and, in fact, everything in the Torani universe—comes from a very personal, almost sacred place. It comes from the Dilliwala I am, from the Indian I am, and from the magic of growing up in India. Especially as a middle-class Indian, there is so much magic and memory in everyday life, and I think my design philosophy carries all of that and more.

Which motif was the most exciting to reinterpret for the home?

KT: I'd say there were two. The first is chintz. It's timeless. It has been part of Indian—and even colonial—history for centuries, yet it continues to feel relevant. It never fades. It has an iconic quality that always feels contemporary and one step ahead.

The second would be the heart motif from our Juloos collection. I love it because a heart crosses every boundary of culture, religion and identity. It becomes personal and connects with everyone. I believe design should begin and end with a feeling, and that's exactly the message the heart carries.

You can reinterpret it in so many ways—it can be a solid colour, multicoloured, or floral, like we've done in this collection. Those two motifs will always be especially close to me.

Were there any ideas that worked beautifully in fashion but had to be reimagined for interiors?

KT: Absolutely. In fashion, we have many tools—silhouettes, embroidery and dramatic layering. But when it comes to the home, everything begins and ends with comfort because people actually have to live with these products. They'll wake up with them, sleep with them and feel them against their skin. It becomes one of the most personal and intimate experiences.

A bridal garment is also intimate and emotional, but it's worn for a moment in time and is about preserving a memory. Home décor, on the other hand, also has to serve a purpose. For us, that meant unlearning a few things. Utility had to come first, and design had to follow. That's quite different from the Torani language in fashion, where comfort has sometimes taken a back seat—except in couture. We've always been willing to create a hundred-foot train if that's what the story demanded, regardless of the inconvenience it might bring.

Is this just the beginning of Torani Home, or can we expect a bigger home and lifestyle universe from you?

KTi:  My conversations with Neha were always about beginning a new journey together. I know that this is only the start of what we'll create with myTrident. We've already seen tremendous interest in this collection, and we're already gearing up for the next one.

What was the biggest challenge in translating the Torani aesthetic into home décor?

KT: Honestly, I expected it to be much more challenging than it turned out to be. The process felt surprisingly seamless. Even while the designs were being painted, sketched and developed digitally, I had my reservations about how they would actually come to life and how people would imagine them in their homes. Now that I've seen the finished collection—at the risk of sounding immodest—I genuinely feel these are pieces I would love to have in my own home.