Tarun Tahiliani

Tarun Tahiliani: I travel often for work; at least once a month, if not more. Usually, it’s domestic travel and shorter distances, but I do have to go abroad very often, too. These days, what I enjoy the most about travelling is long-haul flights, where no one can reach me.

OT: Any collections inspired by a trip?

Tarun Tahiliani: My Autumn-Winter Collection 2012–13 was inspired by a trip to Istanbul. The collection is Ottoman-themed and many of my inspirations for motifs, prints and colours came from things I saw at the stunning Topkapi Palace Museum.

OT: What’s your favourite kind of holiday?

Tarun Tahiliani: It’s one where I can visit new museums. I love visiting museums, whether it’s The Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim in New York. I loved the Musée des Beaux Arts in Paris. I recently went to the US for my son’s graduation and all he wanted to do was watch football! So I spent a day at the museum instead and left feeling creatively refreshed.

OT: You divide your time between Delhi and Mumbai. What do you love about the two cities?

Tarun Tahiliani: I grew up in Mumbai and I live in Delhi. Mumbai has a professional energy — even a taxi driver understands professionalism. Delhi has a sense of history, heritage and greenery, and I love the Delhi seasons.

OT: What’s your favourite weekend getaway?

Tarun Tahiliani: I love Goa and I love creating. So I married the two and built many a house there. Getting there is easy and quick, and the weather is agreeable. In fact, I loved being in Goa so much that I started to work on some boutique hotels. I did The Sol on the banks of the Sinquerim river, which is airy, easy chic; taking all the elements of nature and incorporating them into it. I’m working on another hotel now, so it keeps taking me back there.

OT: Do you seek out good food experiences?

Tarun Tahiliani: I live for food. I once went to Old Delhi to source some trims for my collection and sat at the Parathewali Gali and ate so much that I had to cancel my shopping.

OT: Do you shop a lot on vacations?

Tarun Tahiliani: As I get older, I shop less. I have no place left to stuff anything into.

OT: Was there an out-of-the-blue trip ever?

Tarun Tahiliani: I remember dropping in to see a friend for tea and whisking him off to Kathmandu for the night for my birthday. At twenty-two, this was exciting.

OT: Your top five favourite spots…

Tarun Tahiliani: Humayun’s Tomb and Jamali Kamali in Delhi; the sunset at Fort Tiracol in Goa; the Getty Lodge at the Ngorongoro Crater; both summer and winter at Queenstown; and the Met in New York.