A TESTAMENT TO BLENDING NOSTALGIA WITH DESIGN – WITH AMITHA MADAN OF MAGARI


For Amitha Madan, Principal Designer at Magari – a furniture design studio with an emphasis on timeless tradition and meaningful living, “design must hold the power of initiating conversations, inspire meaning, and not be bound to any particular typology.”

“Each piece must tell a story.” With this adage in mind, Amitha has been building thoughtful narratives that recite a unique story – resonating with the designer’s signature style of reviving past traditions with a contemporary language and local artisanship. It is this philosophy of exploring timelessness in design that resonated with our thought so beautifully that we had to sit down and take five with the talented designer.


Image @Magari, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Having studied architecture from BMSCE, Bangalore, Amitha has been designing furniture and environments since 2015.

Picking out elements that imbue a space with personality comes easy for Amitha. “I believe in creating timeless pieces that would travel with you on your journey, and beyond”. Beautifully interlacing experience with design, the pieces that she designs have a unique character that sparks joy and intrigue in any space wherein they reside.


Image @FaddStudio, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Timelessness in design. Furniture pieces from Magari imbibe the nuances of nostalgia with comfort in a way that incorporates a space with unique aesthetics.

Citing Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright as her biggest inspirations, Amitha has studied and imbibed the carefully articulated approach with which these iconic design heavyweights championed the world of furniture design. “The pieces they designed speak of the era they lived in, amplified their individuality, and ignited captivating connections with time. Matching up to the maxim of ‘timeless tradition’ in every conceivable manner, each piece is marked by comfort and sophistication, which is an impactful intervention to this day.”


From the workshop: Magari’s focus lies in making pieces that will last generations, celebrating the handmade in all its beautiful imperfection. Each piece is distinct, bearing with it, the stamps of the artisan’s skills, honouring the flaws that come with it, and bearing a standout expression intrinsic of the handcraft.

The versatile Aayutha collection, for example has as its inspiration, the blend of culture and tradition witnessed in India in the Sangam Age, in 400 BC, a time of flourishing in India that birthed the Tamil script. Handcrafted offerings like the low dining table and seating exhibit minimalist expressions and eclectic compositions – sampling the origins of the historic stone-carvings from Mamallapuram. The table honours the craft with its juxtaposition of a polished black slab tabletop and roughly textured granite legs. Expanding this visual aesthetic, the collection showcases clean lines and geometric details borrowed from the brand’s folio of modern ergonomic functionality.


Image @Magari, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Modern ergonomics. The low-seated table enables the tradition of sitting on the ground — a sign of simplicity and togetherness. But the collection introduces a contemporary minimalist look with brass details in addition to the traditional materials of stone and wood.


Images @Magari

“We have always tried to keeps things simple and focus more on adding details that brings the collection or concept together rather than adding unnecessary components and features”, says Amitha.

India has and will always remain a source of constant inspiration for the design honcho. “Each craft explores a compelling drama of colours, textures, and dexterous skills. And it allows us to perennially integrate the indigenous craft with modern sensibilities and render it a contemporary dialect, evolving into art and enriching lives.” Whether it’s the stone carving art exhibited in the Aayutha collection, or the cane craftsmanship seen in the primary collection by Magari, Indian crafts romance their way into the brand’s contemporary design ideology, breaking prosaic norms and creating adaptability.


“Our designs are about re-inventing practices of the past into new products with the help of modern-day materials and practices. We allow ourselves to imagine the past in a new intriguing form.”

Seen here: Malaga Storage Cabinet,by Magari, at The House Of Things.

Born and raised in Bangalore, Amitha was always surrounded by luxuriant design; colonial houses abounding with vernacular furniture, where wood and cane were celebrated hallmarks of furniture design. That led the designer into creating collections vast in their possibilities yet precise in reality with a revivalist approach, employing local artisans, age-old artisanry, and thoughtful innovation. Whether it’s the classic design of the Athens armchair or the archetypal Malaga storage cabinet, each piece is marked by enhanced sophistication.

Magari’s focus lies in making pieces that will last generations, celebrating the handmade in all its beautiful imperfection. Each piece is distinct, bearing with it, the stamps of the artisan’s skills, honouring the flaws that come with it, and bearing a standout expression intrinsic of the handcraft

For Amitha Madan, Principal Designer at Magari – a furniture design studio with an emphasis on timeless tradition and meaningful living, “design must hold the power of initiating conversations, inspire meaning, and not be bound to any particular typology.”

“Each piece must tell a story.” With this adage in mind, Amitha has been building thoughtful narratives that recite a unique story – resonating with the designer’s signature style of reviving past traditions with a contemporary language and local artisanship. It is this philosophy of exploring timelessness in design that resonated with our thought so beautifully that we had to sit down and take five with the talented designer.

Image @Magari, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Having studied architecture from BMSCE, Bangalore, Amitha has been designing furniture and environments since 2015.

Picking out elements that imbue a space with personality comes easy for Amitha. “I believe in creating timeless pieces that would travel with you on your journey, and beyond”. Beautifully interlacing experience with design, the pieces that she designs have a unique character that sparks joy and intrigue in any space wherein they reside.

Image @FaddStudio, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Timelessness in design. Furniture pieces from Magari imbibe the nuances of nostalgia with comfort in a way that incorporates a space with unique aesthetics.

Citing Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright as her biggest inspirations, Amitha has studied and imbibed the carefully articulated approach with which these iconic design heavyweights championed the world of furniture design. “The pieces they designed speak of the era they lived in, amplified their individuality, and ignited captivating connections with time. Matching up to the maxim of ‘timeless tradition’ in every conceivable manner, each piece is marked by comfort and sophistication, which is an impactful intervention to this day.”

From the workshop: Magari’s focus lies in making pieces that will last generations, celebrating the handmade in all its beautiful imperfection. Each piece is distinct, bearing with it, the stamps of the artisan’s skills, honouring the flaws that come with it, and bearing a standout expression intrinsic of the handcraft.

The versatile Aayutha collection, for example has as its inspiration, the blend of culture and tradition witnessed in India in the Sangam Age, in 400 BC, a time of flourishing in India that birthed the Tamil script. Handcrafted offerings like the low dining table and seating exhibit minimalist expressions and eclectic compositions – sampling the origins of the historic stone-carvings from Mamallapuram. The table honours the craft with its juxtaposition of a polished black slab tabletop and roughly textured granite legs. Expanding this visual aesthetic, the collection showcases clean lines and geometric details borrowed from the brand’s folio of modern ergonomic functionality.

Image @Magari, Photograph @Gokul Rao Kadam

Modern ergonomics. The low-seated table enables the tradition of sitting on the ground — a sign of simplicity and togetherness. But the collection introduces a contemporary minimalist look with brass details in addition to the traditional materials of stone and wood.

Images @Magari

“We have always tried to keeps things simple and focus more on adding details that brings the collection or concept together rather than adding unnecessary components and features”, says Amitha.

India has and will always remain a source of constant inspiration for the design honcho. “Each craft explores a compelling drama of colours, textures, and dexterous skills. And it allows us to perennially integrate the indigenous craft with modern sensibilities and render it a contemporary dialect, evolving into art and enriching lives.” Whether it’s the stone carving art exhibited in the Aayutha collection, or the cane craftsmanship seen in the primary collection by Magari, Indian crafts romance their way into the brand’s contemporary design ideology, breaking prosaic norms and creating adaptability.

“Our designs are about re-inventing practices of the past into new products with the help of modern-day materials and practices. We allow ourselves to imagine the past in a new intriguing form.”

Seen here: Malaga Storage Cabinet,by Magari, at The House Of Things.

Born and raised in Bangalore, Amitha was always surrounded by luxuriant design; colonial houses abounding with vernacular furniture, where wood and cane were celebrated hallmarks of furniture design. That led the designer into creating collections vast in their possibilities yet precise in reality with a revivalist approach, employing local artisans, age-old artisanry, and thoughtful innovation. Whether it’s the classic design of the Athens armchair or the archetypal Malaga storage cabinet, each piece is marked by enhanced sophistication.

Magari’s focus lies in making pieces that will last generations, celebrating the handmade in all its beautiful imperfection. Each piece is distinct, bearing with it, the stamps of the artisan’s skills, honouring the flaws that come with it, and bearing a standout expression intrinsic of the handcraft.