BHG stylemakers

special | design

Ishrat Sahgal
FOUNDER, MISHCAT CO (MISHCATCO.COM)
When Ishrat Sahgal returned to India in 2013 after majoring
in interior architecture from the Rhode Island School of
Design, she noticed a gap in the carpet industry. Designs
were the de riguer neutral-coloured, too expensive or too
similar, Kashmiri, traditional, and featuring wool or at
silk. A ne arts enthusiast, and wanting to treat carpets as
a canvas, Ishrat, 28, set up Mishcat Co in Delhi the same
year. Today, the brand is known for its stunning, upcycled
carpets crafted from leftover sari silk yarn, and also oers
interior consultancy.

THE BESTSELLER:
THE LUMINOUS
US
U
IKAT KHOYA CARPET.
ARPET.
WHAT SETS MISHCAT the carpet industry STYLE TO YOU IS
CO CARPETS APART? hadnt had any being comfortable in
Our complementary innovation and what we my own skin. It spans
design consultancy helps saw were the same old across mediumsyour
each space reach its things. Our idea is to clothes, your home and
fullest potential. Once change the way people your conversations. A
you have a rug from look at carpets. truly stylish person is
Mishcat (a childhood holistic in his or her style
nickname) on the oor, it YOUR INSPIRATIONS? it isnt dened by the
acts as a focal point, and Im constantly inspired brands you wear or the
everything else can be by the bodies of work and colour of your lipstick.
subtle or eclectic, as per passion of a lot of artists
your aesthetics. Due to and designers across ADVICE TO ASPIRING
sari silks nature, every disciplinespainters, STYLEMAKERS?
carpet is unique. sculptors, architects, Question the normal and
among others. But, I nd your way of doing
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU believe that original things dierently. People
HAVE FILLED A GAP IN inspiration comes from feed on passion and that NO TWO CARPETS
THE INDUSTRY? the source, and that one reects in whatever you ARE THE SAME
AME
Yes, and that has been can nd beauty in the have created. Also, AT MISHCAT CO.
most exciting. For eons, most unexpected places. dream big!

FAVOURITE DESIGNER:
PHOTOGRAPH: GREG SCHEIDEMANN [N] HAUS F OTO

ITALIAN ARCHITECT
CARLO SCARPA.

In some ways, the brand

is an extension of my
personality. The voice it
takes on is like an organic
conversation that I would
have with someone.
76 | September 2017 As told to Meghna Menon