This month’s issue focuses on the retail milieu in India. However, we wanted to do something different. In addition to presenting features that showcase extraordinary new retail spaces being designed in the country and abroad, we wanted to explore who it is, that is adding oomph to the design and retail environment of the country – and specifically how it has affected our homes. There has been such an explosion in this segment, especially in the past decade. Products, accessories, brands, designers and styles – it’s like one day we discovered the world is our oyster, and we set about choosing what we wanted for our spaces. Along with international brands that promised luxury came in local home-brewed talents that now match the best in the world, offering choices galore. We want a modern contemporary international home, but we also want a good dash of the India that we so love. Brands over time realised our very specific tastes and adapted and evolved. In this issue, we present 30 brands that did just that and are now effectively changing how and what we buy. These are influencers – they have experimented, are succeeding and are boldly changing our homes. Hope you enjoy the feature. In other pages, the offerings are rich and plenty too. Our portfolio section showcases some of the best-designed retail stores from across the world. Architect Dikshu Kukreja writes a column on how a retail space is not just about the shopping experience. We also have fantastic residential projects. Shabnam Gupta transforms a three-storey house into an exotic abode with her signature style, and architect Puran Kumar designs his own home (called The Mango House) in Alibaug that seems like the most natural and honest extension of the beautiful surroundings it sits in. Interestingly, this project is a finalist entry - the only one from India in the House category - for Inside Awards at WAF ’15. Enjoy the read. Cheers. Preeti Singh