Leila Erfan, 33, Creative Director, Aria Interior Design pvt ltd
Teheran girl Leila Erfan believes her destiny brought her to Delhi, but it’s her fondness for it that keeps her firmly back. The Creative Director of Aria Interior Design Pvt Ltd was born in Iran’s capital but has made Delhi her home. She loves the crowded streets of Chandni Chowk as much as she values the peace and quiet of Lodhi Gardens, where she seeks the luxury to disconnect from the humdrum of everyday life. “Delhi is like a big bowl with an assortment of cultures, colours and crafts, and it’s amazing to see how fast time goes by here. This city has given me a lot and welcomed me with open arms. I want to give back to it in equal measure,” she says.
Her interior design and architecture firm, established in 2012, followed by her showroom last year were thoughtfully introduced to amalgamate Persian influences with modern sensibilities. “It showcases a bit from where I come from and a bit about the place I now call home,” she says, adding, “It’s unfortunate that many of us feel the need to match up with the West in many aspects, including design, and must copy what they do. In that, we’re losing our identity. Instead of fitting old designs into western moulds, we need to give the city its own unique and artistic design aesthetic and I am trying to do my bit,” says Leila, who feels disappointed to see a plethora of copied designs being incorporated from different countries into Indian products, but few original ideas being implemented.
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