The meeting of minds: where couture meets craftsmanship

When two creative forces unite, the outcome is rarely subtle. Kapurthala, the stunning partnership between Obeetee and JJ Valaya, shows that grandeur can also be poetic. It doesn’t need to shout. It unfolds gently, like silk in the breeze.

This capsule collection of handwoven silk carpets, part of Obeetee’s Proud to be Indian series, is more than just decoration. It delivers a journey through time, culture, and across continents. Fourteen designs tell countless stories. Each one reflects on legacy, woven through its threads.

At the center is the jamavar-an emblem, a memory, a movement. From the snow-dusted valleys of Kashmir to the workshops of Marseilles, Kapurthala traces the history of the paisley, reinterpreting it with Indian elegance and European style. The collection feels familiar, yet it presents a fresh perspective.

A maharaja’s favourite, reimagined 

Few designers understand storytelling like JJ Valaya. Known for his rich and detailed approach to couture, Valaya has dedicated decades to drawing inspiration from India’s royal heritage and giving it a modern twist. For this collaboration, he turned to Kapurthala, a princely state renowned for its French influence, Indo-European architecture, and cultivated sophistication.

The carpets in this collection are infused with that sensibility.

Delicate borders inspired by botanical illustrations, intricate paisleys lifted from ancestral shawls, and just the right touch of modernity create a design that feels both lavish and grounded. The symmetry is classic Valaya, while the softness embodies Obeetee’s tradition.

What stands out is how the carpets behave like fabrics. They aren’t rigid objects. They flow, they shine, they fit in. In a cozy Parisian salon or an ancient haveli, they would feel right at home.

Where threads tell tales 

The jamavar represents more than just a design-it’s a cultural symbol. Once painstakingly embroidered onto shawls for emperors and elite patrons, its teardrop shape has traveled from the artisans of Kashmir to the commercial looms of Europe, finding its way onto everything from pashminas to porcelain.

But Kapurthala goes beyond the motif. It focuses on its story.

Valaya doesn’t replicate the past; he reinterprets it. He places the paisley in new contexts-nestling it within European-style symmetry, enhancing it with ornate florals, and sometimes breaking it up with clean, modern lines. This balance is purposeful. These aren’t carpets for old palaces-they’re heirlooms for contemporary homes appreciating history without being restricted by it.

Craft, beyond production 

If there’s an unsung hero in this collaboration, it’s the artisan.

Behind every rug lies a legacy of skill-Obeetee boasts over a century of hand-knotting, dyeing, and weaving with precision that resembles a form of meditation. There’s no rush here. No shortcuts. Making these rugs requires months of effort. And that’s how it should be.

The silk is treated with respect. The dyes, often custom made, are applied with an understanding of light and life. The final products are checked not by machines, but by experienced eyes that know how well-told stories should look.

What makes these carpets luxurious isn’t just the silk or the knot density. It’s the care, the personal touch, the generational wisdom of hands that have dedicated their lives to crafting beauty quietly.

A quiet kind of opulence 

In a world that often equates excess with elegance, Kapurthala presents something subtler. A different kind of luxury. These are not carpets that demand attention. They wait patiently. And when you’re ready, they invite you in-with their details, textures, and memories.

They belong in homes that appreciate conversation. For people who view design as a dialogue. And for spaces where every object carries a story.

Place one in a minimalist setting, and it becomes a focal point. Layer it in a maximalist room, and it complements your boldest pieces. They offer remarkable versatility-despite their clear heritage, they don’t overwhelm. They welcome.

Proud to be Indian, proud to be timeless 

Obeetee’s Proud to be Indian series has always honored the blend of design, legacy, and craftsmanship. However, Kapurthala takes it further. It’s not just a tribute to India’s weaving traditions-it’s a heartfelt letter, written in silk and sealed with stories.

While many collaborations aim for scale, this one seeks depth. You won’t find hundreds of variations. What you encounter is intimacy. Each rug feels well thought out. Measured. Like a handwritten note instead of a printed card.

In some ways, it mirrors how great fashion operates. A couture piece doesn’t just fit-it transforms. These carpets do the same for a room.

Final thought 

Kapurthala isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who understand the difference between decoration and design. Between style and soul. Between trends and timelessness.

In every paisley, there’s a passport. In every border, a memory. And in every rug, an exchange of ideas that didn’t just meet-they danced.