Women in design unite

The Hindu

25-04-2025

Just like the novel A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, where the author explores the need for women to be financially independent and have personal space to create art and achieve intellectual freedom, a house too resonates with identity, memory, and intention. For women, curating a space becomes a form of storytelling — creating environments that reflect artistic style, safety, emotion, and care. However, for men, the focus is more on the aesthetic and utilitarian aspect.
Honouringwomen who shape the world through design and authentic expression, 'Room For Her' — presented by Adeline Graham, a French entrepreneur and interior designer — was hosted at her Fern & Ade showroom in Chennai last week. While the name of her showroom is a tribute to her grandmother Fern, Graham says she has been inspired by the fashion and culinary worlds as opposed to drawing inspiration from just one person.
The talk featured artist Parvathi Nayar, photographer and urban gardening enthusiast Shefalii Dadabhoy, and Sripriya Ganesan, co-founder of Studio Neon Attic as the speakers, and was moderated by Shakthi Girish, founder of Galatta magazine. Topics ranged from how women shape the art world to how to bring a feminine perspective into architecture.
The showroom itself was a blend of modernity and warmth, with the evening light filtering through its minimalist decor. For Graham, who offers 'a European sensibility — softer colour palettes and refined lines — that complements the richness of Indian homes, including their vibrant artwork and intricate woodwork' the occasion was the perfect opportunity to bring together women from different walks of life. 'Design and creativity go far beyond just interiors; they're woven into every aspect of how we live — from the art we choose to the food we serve and the way we nurture our outdoor spaces,' she said.
When it comes to the influence of women in art, Nayar, who recently premiered her show Limits of Change at Chennai's Lalit Kala Akademi, said that she wouldn't want to be typecast as a woman artist who would only work with fabric or embroidery or on women's subjects. This would be reductive and limiting. 'I embrace the fact that I'm a woman and that sensibility makes its way into my work,' she added.
Meanwhile, Dadabhoy, who is known for her work as a home chef (the city loves her artisanal floral brownies), has also been lauded for her efforts to transform Chennai into a sunflower city. 'How you wear your clothes in the morning, how you lay your dishes, how you serve, art is designed from that aspect. Getting flowers onto my plate of food was just a natural progression of that. We have to let nature be the painter, and we become the curator,' she explained.
For architect and interior designer Ganesan, whose Studio Neon Attic showcases design and integrates traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, femininity is not a sense of aesthetic, but is layered and emotionally intelligent. 'Who is going to use the space? If you are looking at a workspace, are we looking at a workspace where women feel safe… this is what women bring into design. Spaces have always been designed keeping men in the picture, which is very basic, functional, and monumental,' she said.
Names that inspire
Textile designer Sonali Manavalan, founder and head designer of Manavalanan Co — a multidisciplinary design house — confessed that she draws inspiration from Sarah Sham, owner of Essajees Atelier, a global design company. 'I came across her on Instagram. She is a boss lady. One of the things that inspired me was how she handles massive projects. More than the finished products, it's the fact that she has done all this work while raising two children,' she observed.
Both Sakthi Bhuvaneswari, of The Civic Studio, and Ganesan are inspired by architect Zaha Hadid, the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize. 'Her designs are unapologetically her. I got into architecture because I wanted to shake up the design space just like her,' shared Ganesan. 'As I practise sustainability, I also look up to Chitra Vishwanath [of Biome Solutions, Bengaluru]. In Chennai, I like the work of Shilpa Architects,' added Sakthi Bhuvaneswari.
Cherry picking furniture
At the store, both Bhuvaneswari and Kalpana Rao, owner of OCD Space Studio, favoured the RFH armchair by &Tradition, a Danish brand that focuses on originality. 'Small in footprint, part of the chair's charm lies in its low and compact form, offering a lounge piece with a striking silhouette that can be placed anywhere,' Graham described later.
For Purva Bhende, associate architect with ED+Architecture, the side table with a rotating disc was the winner. 'I tend to focus on the visual appeal as opposed to comfort. If you are sitting and are bored, fiddling with it is something that you are meant to do.'