Mumbai welcomes a new cultural and design landmark as Traditional Handicrafts Centre (THC) opens Nayab, a 1,300-sq-ft store in the Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Lower Parel. Known globally for preserving and promoting India’s artisanal heritage, THC carries forward a 40-year-old legacy into the heart of the city’s design district.
Founded in 1962 by Mahender Gupta, THC began as a modest initiative in Jodhpur to safeguard traditional wooden artefacts. Over the decades, it has grown into a family-run global brand, exporting to over 50 countries and working with 32 sourcing points across India. Today, under the leadership of third-generation siblings Priyank Gupta and Vrinda Agarwal, THC is entering a new chapter with Nayab.
Conceived as an intimate gallery-meets-retail space, Nayab showcases rare heirlooms, antiques, artefacts, furniture, and objects that carry the patina of history while resonating with modern lifestyles. Designed by Vrinda Agarwal, an interior designer, the store takes visitors on a curated spatial journey. Highlights include dedicated zones for Uraib, a fashion label by Palak Gupta, and Cahree, a mindful living brand by Tanushree Agarwal, before leading into galleries of THC’s carefully sourced collection.
The interiors reflect THC’s sustainable ethos, with flooring and wall panels by Reclaimed Flooring Center, a THC subsidiary that repurposes teak wood from century-old colonial buildings, reducing deforestation and demand for plantation timber.
For Priyank, Nayab is a personal dream realized. “I grew up surrounded by artisans who could carve a single block of teak into something exquisite. With Nayab, we are not just showcasing artefacts—we are telling the stories of the people and communities who keep these traditions alive,” he says.
Vrinda adds, “This store is our way of giving craft its rightful place in contemporary culture. Mumbai, with its cultural openness and appreciation for design, felt like the perfect city to begin this chapter.”
With Nayab, THC positions itself at the intersection of heritage and modernity—a gallery, retail space, and cultural touchpoint that invites visitors to engage with India’s living history.
