Latest news with #SpiritofIndia
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lladró teams up with Indian sculptor to mark 25 years of Spirit of India
Synopsis Lladró commemorates 25 years of its Spirit of India collection by unveiling a limited-edition Lord Ram Lalla sculpture, created with master sculptor Dr. Arun Yogiraj. This collaboration marks Lladró's first with an Indian artist, highlighting the brand's investment in India, a top global market.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Lladró has collaborated with sculptor Arun Yogiraj to release limited edition Ram Lalla sculptures
Twenty-five years since it first launched its Spirit of India collection, Lladró, the Spanish luxury porcelain house has collaborated with Indian sculptor Arun Yogiraj, marking this their first collaboration with an Indian artist. The brand has unveiled a limited edition High Porcelain sculpture of Ram Lalla. 'This collaboration, which combines Indian spirit and heritage with Spanish artistry is a coming together of patience, devotion and craft,' says Arun, the Mysuru-based artist who came into prominence after sculpting the Ram Lalla idol, which depicts a five-year-old Lord Ram, for the Ayodhya temple. Launched in 2000, the Spirit of India collection began with Lord Ganesha and has since launched several limited-edition idols inspired by Hindu mythology. Arun's collaborative process with Lladró began in 2024 when the brand reached out to him, and he spent nearly a year working on this launch. 'While the sculpture carved out of stone in Ayodhya is seven feet, we had to work on making an idol here that was one-and-a-half-feet tall. I was not very aware of how to work with porcelain as well, and learnt through this process that the material is fired at high temperatures to give it strength and ensure it is long lasting, with a luminous finish. The entire process took several months and combined the essence of two traditions into one work of art,' Arun explains. This also involved a trip to Lladró's workshop in Valencia, Spain, where Arun worked with the sculptors there led by the brand's master sculptor Raúl Rubio. Each piece took over 20 days of handcrafting to complete, and Arun says he was in awe of the passion, craftsmanship and experience he witnessed at work. 'For instance, the garland in each idol has 500 individual porcelain flowers made entirely by hand. Each individual artist having different skill sets came together for this, and I had the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge as well,' he says. Reflecting on 25 years of the Spirit of India collection, Nieves Contrares, Lladró's creative director says that it was natural for them to launch in the Indian market with a collection that blended spirituality, culture, and craftsmanship. 'The iconography of Indian sculptures; all the colours and the jewels are very interesting to work with on porcelain because it is a material that allows so many possibilities in terms of shapes, colours and finishing,' she explains. India is currently Lladró's third largest market globally, and 499 units form a part of this limited-edition collaboration, significant for collectors both in India and across the world. The limited-edition Ram Lalla sculpture is priced at ₹12,50,000 and is available at Lladró's boutiques across the country.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
25 years of Spirit of India and a new immersive new store in Delhi
Lladró's 25th anniversary in India coincides with the opening of their ninth boutique in the new space is at New Delhi's The Chanakya, known to house other luxury brands such as Hermès, Tiffany & Co. and Ravissant. And as with other Lladró addresses around the world, this too is a phantasmagorical world of porcelain, where innovation and imagination have catapulted a 12th century material to brave new heights. Meet the icons At this Mediterranean-style 600 sq. ft. boutique designed by Puerto Rican architect Héctor Ruiz-Velázquez, meet Haute École, a glistening white purebred horse with sinewy muscles rearing forth under an exquisite Seasons chandelier with dozens of blue and white elements in porcelain and crystal. On a wall display are multiple versions of The Guest — a whimsical character by Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon — now a beloved icon of modern porcelain. While entry-level fragrance candles start at ₹6,000, a Lladró handcrafted object can cost crores of rupees. Ever since three brothers in the Spanish village of Almàssera began their uncharted journey in 1953 to reimagine handcrafted porcelain, Lladró has captivated audiences worldwide. Creative director Nieves Contreras says, 'The creation of a Lladró piece is a highly artisanal and time-intensive process. Anywhere from five to over 100 moulds may be required depending on the complexity of the piece.' While single-firing has replaced triple, and their palette is expansive with 4,000 shades, the real 'porcelain revolution' has been about forging new paths to stay relevant, says Rushil Kapoor, marketing and PR manager at Lladró India. The magic of India Lladró's organised entry into India as a joint venture, Spa Lifestyle Pvt Ltd., paved the way for good fortunes. India is Lladró's third largest market. In its 70th year, its second-largest store globally was launched on MG Road in New Delhi. 2025 is also the 25th anniversary of the Spirit of India, fashioned after Hindu traditions. Ana Rodríguez Nogueiras, global CEO of Lladró, says, 'Each creation aims to become a meaningful link between Spanish artistry and India's rich cultural and spiritual traditions.' The fan following for their intricate figurines — Ram, Sita, Hanuman, the Mudras, Sai Baba and Goddess Lakshmi — is spread across the Indian diaspora in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. In India, Lladró loyalty goes back many generations. Take entrepreneur and art collector Pinky Reddy for instance, an avowed patron who bought a Lord Balaji figurine and had been to the Valencia factory when she was just 13. With the genial Lord Ganesha in many poses equally popular amongst westerners, Lladró's Indian footprint is firmly established. 'Revenue from India contributes to 13% of Lladró's global revenue, of which 38% comes from Spirit of India,' says Nikhil Lamba, CEO Lladró India. An eye on sustainability Sustainability requires not just innovative adaptation for the times, but also future foresight, along with a deep concern for the planet's ecosystems. Lladró embodies all three. The three elements of porcelain have remained constant — kaolinite, quartz and feldspar — and so has Lladró's ideal: to make collectables of lasting emotive significance. While classics are still a staple, designer-led aesthetics have captured the market. Lamba says, 'Earlier, patrons bought classic glazed sculptures with florals and subtle colours. Now, they prefer contemporary and playful designs in bold, striking colours.' Contreras, who has purposefully steered global trends, says, 'Achieving perfection in porcelain is always a demanding task, no matter the size or type of piece. One of the main challenges is its unpredictability — it behaves almost like a living material.' Lladró's creative collaborations such as Ephemeral Treasures, with renowned Valencian artist Dulk's portrayal of fantastical animals, raises awareness about the beauty of nature, acting as a reminder of the planet's fragility. Let there be light In 2013, Lladró expanded into lighting. The Chanakya boutique is showcasing a wide range, including chandeliers, table and floor lamps, pendants, and wireless lamps. You can find the classic Ivy & Seed chandelier in white, as well as the 2022 NYC x Design Awards winner in the chandelier category — the Seasons Chandelier (Winter) in cool blue hues. The portable wireless Firefly Lamp is the proven star of the show, lending its glow to tablescapes, verandas, desk tops, and gifting. Contreras says, 'You can now customise your lamp at the Firefly Bar in the new boutique, putting together elements of your choice and colour.' And you can take it home in a month, after it's made in the City of Porcelain in Tavernes Blanques, Lladró's only production factory in the world. The writer is a brand strategist with a background in design from SAIC and NID.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
‘Indians are open to innovation rooted in tradition': Lladró's global CEO
When Lladró, the Spanish luxury maker of artistic porcelain figurines, sculptures, lighting and home decor, launched its first store in (Mumbai) India in the early 2000s, the country was nowhere close to being considered a luxury market. But one thing that Lladró did a few years ahead of coming to India—a decision that in hindsight can be termed as 'thoughtful' —was launching the Spirit of India collection. Inspired by Hindu traditions, the collection offered the Indian customer handcrafted figurines of gods and goddesses among other works with a pronounced Indian theme. Priced between ₹8500 (for decorative plates) to ₹9,00,000 for the Rama-Sita limited edition sculpture, the Spirit of India collection helped the brand gain inroads into India. Also read: Sephora's global CEO Guillaume Motte has big plans for India 'The Divinity collection remains one of our top sellers in India, particularly our renditions of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi," says Ana Rodríguez Nogueiras, global CEO of Lladró in an email interview with Lounge. According to an official press note, India is the third-largest market for the brand and contributes 13% to its global revenue. Not just that, over the last two decades, the brand's presence in the country has expanded from one store to nine, across major Indian metros of New Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. Last month, Lladró inaugurated its newest boutique at DLF The Chanakya, New Delhi. This 616 sq. ft-big venue is the fourth one in the NCR Region. And this is in addition to their boutique in New Delhi that's touted to be the second largest boutique in the world. 'The NCR region—and New Delhi in particular—has always been one of Lladró's strongest markets, both in terms of appreciation for craftsmanship and deep cultural alignment with our values," reveals Rodríguez Nogueiras about the brand's focus on the Capital. In this interaction, she also fields questions about the evolution of the Indian customer, Lladro's artistic collaborations, and the best thing about the job she's been helming for close to a decade. Edited excerpts: Lladró has been in India for over two decades. Based on your observations and interactions, what are some unique things that set the Indian customer apart from someone in Europe or the US? India has been a part of Lladró's journey for over two decades, and in that time, we have witnessed an evolution in the profile of the Indian customer, from primarily traditional art collectors to a more diverse audience that includes younger design-conscious buyers and collectors of contemporary art. What sets Indian clients apart is their strong emotional connection to meaningful pieces, their appreciation for detail, and their openness to innovation rooted in tradition. The kind of detailing that goes into the 'Spirit of India' sculpture collection is awe-inspiring. Since you have only one workshop in Valencia, what is the kind of cultural training that's given to your artists? Our only workshop is indeed in Valencia, but Lladró's creative process is deeply collaborative, and research driven. When we create culturally significant pieces like those in the 'Spirit of India' collection, our artists and designers work closely with cultural consultants, historians, and local experts. It is a meticulous process that involves studying iconography, gestures, meanings, and rituals, always with great respect. The result is not just a beautiful piece, but one that resonates. In India, are the Divinity figurines still the best sellers? What are some other creations that have sold well here? Yes, the Divinity collection remains one of our top sellers in India, particularly our renditions of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. However, we have also seen growing interest in our contemporary design pieces—especially lighting and home accessories—as well as our collaborative works likeThe Guest, which have found a following among younger collectors. Also read: Neo-punk jewellery gets a touch of Indian grandeur Is the 'Personalise You Lladró' initiative that you've started a bid to make art more accessible to your customers here?'Personalize Your Lladró' is a new initiative around one of our most iconic designs: the Firefly cordless lamp. It's an opportunity to offer a more personal touch within a controlled framework, allowing each piece to reflect the taste or sentiment of the person choosing it. While personalization is not a general option across the entire catalogue, this project opens the door to a more expressive and emotionally resonant experience, something that speaks to the evolving definition of luxury. Lladro's image has pivoted from just being a company that makes beautiful porcelain figurines to one that 'creates art' out of porcelain with your creative collaborations. Are these artistic collaborations the way forward for the brand? Collaborations are not just part of the future; they are part of our DNA today. Lladró is evolving from a brand known for figurative porcelain to a creative platform where tradition meets contemporary expression. Through artistic collaborations, we have expanded our creative language and connected with new audiences—while remaining true to our roots in craftsmanship. How do you choose the artists to work with? We look for artists who resonate with Lladró's values: vision, originality, and a deep respect for material. The creative process is always a dialogue—artists bring their ideas, and our artisans bring technical mastery. It is a beautiful exchange that leads to works likeThe Guest(byJaime Hayon), which continues to grow as a platform for artistic diversity. You did a collaboration with Loewe Perfumes last year, making floral porcelain bottle toppers for them. How exciting was that collaboration? It was a beautiful project and a very meaningful one. We created handcrafted porcelain floral bottle toppers that reflected both Loewe's botanical inspiration and Lladró's craftsmanship. It was a perfect meeting point between art, fragrance, and design, and a great example of how we can bring artistry into other luxury domains. Also read: The key to unlocking India's luxury market What does a day in your life look like? How often do you meet the creative team to brainstorm new ideas and see what they are working on? Every day is different—but one constant is the proximity to our creative team. Whether it is reviewing new prototypes, discussing trends, or exploring collaborations, there is a strong sense of shared vision. I find those moments—when ideas become tangible—truly energizing. You've been at the helm of Lladro for close to a decade. What continues to be the best thing about the job? And what's a recent Lladro creation that left you awe-inspired? What remains most exciting is the emotion that Lladró pieces awaken in people. Even after all these years, seeing how craftsmanship, storytelling, and innovation come together to create something meaningful is deeply rewarding. One recent piece that left me in awe is Ephemeral Treasures, a powerful reflection on the fragility of nature, created with the artist Dulk. It shows how far porcelain can go as a language of contemporary art. Also read: Elevate your style with embroidered accessories. Here's how
