From underneath the famousWankhede cricket stadium to the garage of her old family home, MaithiliAhluwalia’s boutique Bungalow 8 has found itself in a variety of unusuallocations in its seven-year history. Today, it resides in a 1857 building thatAhluwalia and her team have lovingly restored to its former glory—removing layers of wallpaper and office furnishings to reveal thebuilding’s original neo-gothic columns and arched windows. Ahluwalia’sfastidious taste is also revealed in the selection of hand-pickedEast Asian and Indian artifacts she curates: ArtDeco cupboards sit alongside vintage Gucci bags and antique oak beds, as well ashousewares and jewelry from local designers including Ahluwalia’s mother,Jamini. When the shop first opened, its clean and contemporary ethoswas considered avant-garde for the region, yet following the launch of Vogue India in 2007 andincreasing interest from brands and designers in the country’s rapidlyexpanding market, Bungalow 8 has become representative of Mumbai’s newstatus as style hub. The store’s anthropological splendor is displayed in aspare manner—Ahluwalia is of the Martin Margiela mindset, a minimalist focusingon overturning the “bling and embellishments” that Indiais often associated with. Two years ago, Ahluwalia followed in the footsteps ofher grandmother (who designed for Chanel), expanding into fashion with a womenswear line producedin collaboration with designer Mathieu Gugumus Leguillon, who has done stints at Lanvin and Yves Saint Laurent. Menswear is set to follow later thismonth.