Following the success of its association with Indian designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, international auction house Sotheby’s wants to collaborate with more artistes in India to increase their market base.
One of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles, Sotheby’s is hosting a three-day exhibition called ‘India Fantastique’, showing the work of the designer-duo in London in September and also collaborated with them in launching their book of the same name.
“We were looking to associate with artistes like Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla as we found that a lot of our buyers of art are the same as the one’s who wear their beautiful creations.
“The exhibition in London was huge success and we are looking forward to associating with more such artistes,” Robin Woodhead, Chairman of Sotheby’s International, said.
Woodhead, who is in the capital for a preview of the auction house’s Amaya Collection, coinciding with the launch of the book ‘India Fantastique’, said increasing operations in India is definitely on their cards.
“Associating with Indian designers like them was part of a well thought out process as we need to promote ourselves in India, which is a growing market. We operate in 93 countries all over the world even though we may not have an office in each of them, but with more such associations Sotheby’s will be able to reach out to more people,” he said.
The ‘India Fantastique’ exhibition in London, with about 50 garments on show, and the book launch, celebrated 25 years of Jani and Khosla in fashion.
“Its a five-kilo double-volume book carrying most of our work done in 25 years and it took two years to assemble, so we are 27 years old now in the business. It has sold in many places already, including Japan, America and England,” said Khosla.
Known both for their creations for men and women and for interior designs, the designer duo have many international celebrities as clients, among them Maggie Smith, Sophie Marceau, Sarah Brown and Judi Dench.
“We had about 50 garments on show at the Sotheby’s exhibition and a little fashion show. We also had Dame Judi Dench and Amitabh Bachchan come and launch the book there.
It’s the mutual admiration we have for each other that made us associate with Sotheby’s, who are such great promoters of art,” said Khosla.