Jaipur Rugs Opens 20,000 Sq. Ft. Flagship at Mumbai’s Historic Empire Mills
New flagship combines Indian handloom traditions, contemporary design and the industrial heritage of Mumbai’s textile district
Jaipur Rugs has opened a 20,000 sq. ft. flagship store at Mumbai’s historic Empire Mills, bringing together Indian craft traditions, contemporary design and the architectural heritage of the city’s textile industry.
Located within the historic Empire Mills compound, the flagship has transformed a former industrial warehouse into an experience centre combining craft, design, architecture and contemporary luxury. The Mumbai store is one of Jaipur Rugs’ most ambitious retail spaces in India and reflects the company’s evolution from a handmade rug manufacturer into a global luxury and design brand from India.
Connecting Mumbai’s Textile Heritage with Indian Craft
The flagship has been designed to present rugs not only as products but also as expressions of art, craft and living heritage. The original Victorian steel structure, pitched roof and clerestory glazing of the warehouse have largely been retained, preserving the architectural character of the building.
Empire Mills forms part of the historic Girangaon precinct, which played a central role in Mumbai’s textile industry. The location creates a connection between the city’s industrial history and Jaipur Rugs’ contemporary interpretation of Indian weaving traditions.
N.K. Chaudhary, Founder, Jaipur Rugs, said: "For me, this store represents more than expansion. It is about taking the story of Indian craftsmanship into a space where it can be experienced, understood and valued in a new way. Empire Mills carries the memory of Mumbai’s textile heritage, while Jaipur Rugs carries the living tradition of the Indian loom. Bringing the two together felt incredibly meaningful. We want people to walk into this space and leave with a deeper appreciation for the human skill, time and emotion behind every handmade rug. This is how we believe Indian craft can find its place in the global luxury conversation."
Flagship Designed as an Immersive Experience
The store presents Jaipur Rugs’ contemporary collections and heritage weaves through curated environments focused on colour, texture, material and design. Artisans weaving rugs in real time are positioned within the retail environment, giving visitors an opportunity to observe the craft process.
Mesh partitions provide views into the rug-making process, while lounge settings allow visitors to experience the texture and scale of the rugs. A vertical rug archive presents a visual journey through the brand’s body of work, while an installation of suspended, origami-like metal birds forms a visual feature at the entrance.
Yogesh Chaudhary, Managing Director, Jaipur Rugs, said: "Luxury retail is changing. Customers are no longer looking only for a beautiful product; they are looking for meaning, provenance and an experience that stays with them. That is the thinking behind our Mumbai flagship. We wanted to create a space where the product, the artisan and the story behind the craft are equally important. Mumbai is one of India’s most influential design and cultural markets, and this flagship allows us to engage with that audience at a much deeper level. It also reflects our larger ambition—to enforce Jaipur Rugs into a global luxury brand rooted unmistakably in India."
Industrial Architecture Meets Contemporary Design
The flagship was designed by Roar, a Dubai-based multidisciplinary design studio led by Pallavi Dean. The design approach retains the existing architecture while introducing elements inspired by the patterns and processes of weaving.
Pallavi Dean, Founder and Creative Director, Roar, said: "We didn't want to design another showroom; we wanted to create a journey. The building already had a powerful identity, the steel structure, the pitched roof, the clerestory light and the memory of its textile past. Our role was to work with that character rather than compete with it. We looked at weaving as a system of repetition, rhythm and connection, and translated those ideas into the architecture through fractal geometry and a series of sculptural volumes. The result is intended to feel less like a retail space and more like a textile unfolding layer by layer, revealing something new as you move through it."
Jaipur Rugs Showcases Design Collaborations
The Mumbai flagship also features Jaipur Rugs’ design collaborations, including the Manchaha and Freedom Manchaha collections, where artisans’ individual stories and creative perspectives contribute to one-of-a-kind rug designs.
The collection of collaborations includes designers and creative figures such as Pavitra Rajaram, Vinita Chaitanya, Peter D’Ascoli, Kavi, Gurjeet Singh and Gauri Khan, along with international collaborators including Tatiana de Nicolay and Her Highness Bodour Al Qasimi.
These collaborations bring together contemporary design perspectives and traditional weaving techniques. Ideas developed by designers are translated through the skills of Jaipur Rugs’ artisan communities, creating pieces that combine contemporary design approaches with established craft practices.
Jaipur Rugs Expands Global Retail Presence
Jaipur Rugs operates stores across India and has international locations in Milan, Dubai, London and Singapore. The company is evaluating additional opportunities across Europe, Asia-Pacific and other established luxury markets.
In India, the company is exploring expansion into markets including Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Gujarat, as it continues to develop its retail footprint.