From Textiles to the Table
In a move that feels both surprising and perfectly natural, design powerhouse Raw Mango has ventured into the culinary world. Known for revolutionising handloom sarees and challenging aesthetic norms, founder Sanjay Garg is applying his distinct philosophy
to food. At the brand's expansive Chhatarpur space in New Delhi, Angoori Badi, a curated seasonal menu is now being offered to visitors. This isn't a pivot away from fashion, but rather a deepening of the brand's engagement with Indian culture, craft, and the senses. The menu acts as another medium—much like textiles, film, or music—through which Raw Mango tells its stories.
A Philosophy of 'Indian-ness'
Sanjay Garg has often described his work as a commentary on the socio-political landscape, a way to challenge stereotypes about what is considered modern or traditional. This new culinary chapter follows the same principle. Instead of chasing global food trends, the menu is deeply rooted in seasonality and local flavours, echoing the brand's 'zero-kilometre' approach to textiles, where craft is practised at its point of origin. Just as Raw Mango championed Chanderi sarees for a new generation, its food initiative champions the simplicity and elegance of home-style, seasonal Indian produce. Garg sees design as a way to solve problems and start conversations, and this menu is a delicious new dialogue.
The Taste of Summer
The inaugural menu, titled 'A Taste of Summer', celebrates the bounty of the season. It’s a curated experience that highlights ingredients at their peak, a concept that is becoming a theme for many restaurants during India's scorching summers. While specific details of Raw Mango's offerings remain closely guarded, the focus is on presenting familiar ingredients in a way that feels both authentic and refined. The idea is to evoke the feeling of exceptional home-cooked food—the kind of meals that are rarely found in commercial restaurants. This approach aligns perfectly with the brand’s ethos of finding luxury in simplicity and authenticity, rather than in overt opulence.
An Extension of a Lifestyle
Raw Mango’s foray into food is part of a larger movement where design and fashion brands are creating holistic lifestyle experiences. For Garg, Raw Mango was never just about clothing; it was about influencing how people think and engage with culture on a broader level. He has long stated that his mediums of expression go beyond textiles to include spaces, sound, and now, taste. By creating a menu, the brand invites its audience to not just wear its aesthetic, but to inhabit it more fully. It transforms a retail space into a cultural destination where one can engage with a complete design philosophy, from the saree on your shoulders to the food on your plate.
