An Evening With The Missoni Family, Hosted by Avarna Jain and Robb Report India

As the festive season draws closer, evenings in the capital are taking on a more interesting character, with people from different walks of life coming together in evocative settings for immersive conversations. October 28, 2026 was one such evening.

Robb Report India and Avarna Jain, chairperson of RPSG Lifestyle Media, vice chairperson of Saregama India and Chair of RR Circle for 2026–2027, recently hosted a private Maharaja Table in honour of the Missoni family at the iconic Asian restaurant—The Spice Route, The Imperial, New Delhi. The guests of honour were Angela Missoni and Teresa Maccapani Missoni, whose family’s long relationship with textiles, colour and creative expression gave rise to the Italian fashion house known for its geometric zigzag knitwear. The evening brought Italian design heritage into conversation with Indian artistry, rounded off with a carefully curated dinner.

Guests from across industries included Italian textile entrepreneur Bruno Ragazzi, film producer Jean-Paul Martinez, director Meena Khera-Martinez, fashion designer Pernia Qureshi, model Avanti Nagrath and Isha Jajodia, designer and founder of Roseroom. They were joined by RR Circle members Kulsum Shadab Wahab, founder of Ara Lumiere and Ara Pret; Sanya V. Jain, founder and creative director of Smoke Lab Wear; and Dildeep Kalra, director of Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd.

The evening began at the sundowner lounge and bar wherein candlelit pathways and clusters of white blooms adorned the space featuring a rich cultural tapestry of ornate Asian figurines and traditional motifs. Flutes of champagne paired with hors d’oeuvres set the tone as conversations lingered long before anyone was seated.

The evening opened with an address by Avarna Jain, chairperson of RPSG Lifestyle Media, vice chairperson of Saregama India, and chair of the Robb Report Circle for 2026–27. Welcoming the Missoni family, she acknowledged their distinctive design language and appreciated how their aesthetics continue to stay relevant in the contemporary world, all without losing its connection to its origins. Aindrila Mitra, editor of Robb Report India, followed with a welcome of her own, recognising the family’s contribution to fashion and the value of preserving the knowledge and traditions that inform their creative work.

When the Missoni family took to the floor, the conversation turned to India. The duo spoke with warmth and admiration for the country, particularly for its cultural legacy and rich artistic traditions. Their appreciation offered a fitting connection between the Italian fashion house and the setting of the evening.

For a family whose identity has been shaped by craftsmanship and a close relationship with the people and processes behind them, India’s varied visual culture provides much to appreciate. It is a belief that sits comfortably with what Robb Report India stands for as well.

Guests then moved to Spice Route, the ethnic Asian restaurant at The Imperial, New Delhi, which has long been revered as a landmark of Asian dining and is a living expression of craft, culture and cuisine. Its nine carefully designed sections are dressed with ancient temple pillars and evocative murals, while the flavours are inspired by the spice routes of Asia.

For the occasion, the hotel curated an exclusive Maharaja Table private dining experience for 20. The intimate table featured a five-course bespoke menu which moved through a sequence of contrasting ingredients, textures, and preparations, complemented by personalised hospitality, in a breathtaking setting.

The amuse-bouche offered a choice between beetroot and avocado tartare, and yellowfin tuna with avocado. The opening plates balanced the earthy sweetness of beetroot against the creaminess of avocado, while the tuna offered a lighter, seafood-led alternative.

The next course brought mushroom and duck to the table, with flaky pastry adding texture to the preparations. The interlude then shifted towards pasta, with three variations of paccheri—Asian spice, Malabar lobster, and chicken dan dan. Each offered a different interpretation of the dish, from the warmth of Asian seasonings to the richness of lobster and the savoury character of the chicken preparation.

For the main course, guests could choose between curries served with basmati rice and cod accompanied by the same fragrant grain.

The meal then concluded with pineapple panna cotta, whose fruit-led finish offered a refreshing close to the evening.

Beyond the menu, the dinner reflected a broader idea of how luxury extends beyond the objects one collects or the labels one wears. At its most compelling, luxury lies in the attention given to materials, the preservation of cultural knowledge, and the ability to create experiences that feel personal.

For Robb Report India, which explores the people, places and ideas shaping contemporary luxury, the evening brought these themes together around a single table. From the Missoni family’s enduring design legacy to The Imperial’s layered interiors and a menu created for the occasion, it was an encounter shaped by thoughtful details, cultural exchange and the pleasure of bringing distinctive worlds together.