Clothing is a vessel for identity — and experimentation. For Mumbai-based retailer Nezo, the fundamentally emotional and profoundly personal nature of fashion is the wellspring for an eclectic yet thoughtfully curated portfolio showcasing a wide array of contemporary and emerging Indian designers. For acclaimed local firm Sanjay Puri Architects, translating the brand’s ethos into a 170-square-metre boutique presented an intriguing challenge: Create an expressive and memorable space, but one that doesn’t compete with the clothing on display.

Situated in the trendy Bandra neighbourhood, the Nezo boutique is a bold yet thoughtfully pared down destination. At the entrance, a sleek curved chrome counter hugs the wall, setting the tone for a playfully futuristic interior. While the monolithic form — which serves as both a welcoming reception and a register — is an unapologetically vivid focal point, its metal surface also defers to its surroundings, reflecting back the shapes and colours that fill the room. A similar interplay of assertive yet complementary gestures shapes the whole of the space.

Past the reception, the open room is anchored by a rich blue hue that spans the floor and subtly extends to custom furnishings and finishes — including the matching grout that accents the tile-clad fixtures. On the floor, the deep and consistent tone was achieved by mixing a pigment directly in the concrete.

The exuberant but simple pop of colour is smartly paired with full-length mirrors, translucent curtains and crisp white walls, which are elevated by subtle wash subtle wash that lends the surface a hint of texture and depth.

While the white walls create a backdrop that highlights the clothing on display — hung on striking custom-designed chrome racks — a cluster of pedestals fills out the heart of the space. Here, understated square tile surfaces (including one that spells out Nezo) are paired with with amorphous colour-blocked rugs, making every display a quiet focal point within a unified whole. Above it all, the room is accented by a sinuous custom LED rope light by Hatsu — a luminous string woven atop the eclectic interior landscape.