Zara's luxury store, which opened in 2017 in the historic Ismail Building at Hutatma Chowk and is known worldwide as a Spanish fashion brand, was closed on Monday, February 24. Hence, an era in the Mumbai fashion world is said to have come to an end.
Zara's first luxury store in India opened in 2017 in a sprawling 51,300 sq ft area of the historic Ismail Building as part of a joint venture between Inditex and Tata Group's Trent Limited. Also, it brought about a significant change in the retail sector in Mumbai. The historic Ismail building was also once again a center of attraction thanks to Zara's luxury store. However, the reasons behind the decision to close shop have started to be discussed.
The Ismail Building, an architectural heritage in the Fort area of south Mumbai, has been considered the glory of the area for more than a century. This historic building was constructed in the early twentieth century and was named Ismail Building after the Sir Ismail Yusuf Trust. Sir Ismail Yusuf was the founder of the trust and a prominent zamindar in Bombay during the British period. He owns many heritage buildings in Mumbai. Built in the Edwardian Neo-Classical style, the five-storey building is considered an architectural icon of the period and reflects the influence of British colonial architecture.
Before Zara chose this building to open its first luxury store in Mumbai, there were some housing banks and offices. However, these stores were replaced by luxury stores of the prestigious brand Zara. Zara's team, including architects Kirtida Unwala and Mona Sanghavi, worked tirelessly for two years to transform and revitalize the structure of the Ismail building. It mainly focused on preserving the original beauty of the building while incorporating micro-renovations and modern retail infrastructure. The green basalt and limestone columns, which had faded over time, were carefully cleaned. Also, the ornate facade was preserved from the outside.
Zara made history there in 2017 by opening India's first independent street store. Moving away from its usual mall-based outlets, the brand invested in South Mumbai's retail sector, bringing the Ismail Building into the limelight. With the closure of Zara, the future of Ismail Building is uncertain. The question has been raised whether this historic building will be preserved or it will fall victim to neglect.
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