Nothing quite matches that feeling of owning a piece that is truly yours. You pick a bag from your favourite luxury store — maybe a Chanel or an LV, but soon the craving sets in. Not for another bag, but for something more personal, a touch of customisation.
If bespoke luxury is your thing and you believe no luxury product is complete without that extra dash of individuality, then meet Kanika Ranka of The Studio Project. If you haven't already heard of her, Ranka transforms luxury staples into unique treasures by hand-painting artwork on them. From bags and shoes to clothing, she makes each piece unique to its owner.
Her clientele is impressive. Think names you already know, from Virat Kohli to Nita Ambani. We caught up with Ranka for a quick conversation on what goes into her customisation process, the most memorable requests she has received, and how personalisation is redefining luxury.
Robb Report India: What drew you to use luxury accessories as your canvas?
Kanika Ranka: I loved painting ever since I was a little child, and studied art through middle school, high school, and even for my 4-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I like the fact that all forms of art are boundary-less, and the amalgamation of fine art and fashion really drew me in. The unconventional canvas of luxury accessories drew me in.
RR: Please take us through your creative process.
Ranka: The process begins with having a conversation with the client about the product they want to transform and any themes or stories they want to convey through the artwork. Once we have a brainstorming session, I create digital renders of the spoken concepts on photos of the product, so the client gets an accurate idea of the visual imagery, size, placement, colours, etc. Once the client is happy and on board with the design layout, I start the painting process. Once painted and dried, the product is shipped back to the client.
RR: Do you approach every brand differently?
Ranka: I approach every surface differently. The pre-painting surface de-glazing and preparation, the number of base coats required, and the final varnish depend on whether the surface is leather, faux leather, treated canvas, fabric, etc.
RR: Where do you find inspiration for your designs? Are they more client-led?
Ranka: The concept for the design has to be client-led as they are the final owners and users of the product. The visual communication of their stories is where I step in!
RR: Are there specific paints or techniques you use to ensure your work is long-lasting and weatherproof?
Ranka: Yes, the paint I use is made in America and imported from there. It is made especially for use on leather and treated canvas products. It’s waterproof, crack-proof, and scratch-proof as long as it is handled with care and respect!
Each product is cleaned and de-glazed before painting to ensure the paint adheres strongly, and finished with a varnish to secure the artwork in place.
RR: How much time does a typical custom piece take, and which one has taken the longest?
Ranka: The time taken to paint a piece depends entirely on the size and complexity of the artwork chosen to paint.
The longest project to date has been the painting of an LV trunk, due to its sheer size.
RR: What is the most memorable or meaningful custom request you have received?
Ranka: I recently painted a Goyard watch trunk with Looney Tunes characters wearing watches, which were inside the box, showing them off to one another. The wittiness of that was something really fun to paint! Looney Tunes is my favourite childhood cartoon, so it was double special.
RR: Your clientele includes the likes of Nita Ambani and Virat Kohli. Catering to such a diverse and high-profile clientele must mean dealing with high expectations. Could you tell us about the customisation requests you get? Are these occasion-specific or driven by personal symbolism?
Ranka: Some are occasion-specific, and some are personal symbolism. But it has always been a great experience to create something for them. They’re super nice and are excited to create something together, as I am.
RR: Do your clients tend to be collectors, fashion lovers, or people seeking emotional heirlooms?
Ranka: I think it’s a mix of all! Some people love fashion and collecting bags and find ways to make it their own. Or even revamp a bag that is in perfect condition, but just not appealing to them anymore. Painting on a product is a great way to give an existing piece a whole new look and excitement to use. Emotional heirloom pieces are my favourite to paint; the client's excitement to use it themselves or often gift it is unparalleled. Lots of baby gifts, graduation, wedding, milestone birthday gifts, which always hit the spot!
RR: What do you think is driving the modern luxury consumer toward customisation?
Ranka: The need to stand out and add a twist of their own personality to their luxury item. With access to international travel and online shopping, having a high-end luxury bag no longer makes you stand out. But having a luxury item which has been personalised just for you, that is something really special and a head turner.
RR: How do you think your work is redefining the idea of luxury?
Ranka: I think the concept of customisation has redefined the concept of luxury. Be it wedding outfits, bags, shoes, or any product for that matter, when customised, especially hand-painted, it automatically elevates any product to one of a kind, aka a luxury in today’s mass-produced world.