Nicobar's Rajiv Purohit Wants You To Slow Down To Find The Perfect Gift
Few people in the country understand gifting quite like Rajiv Purohit does. Be it the swanky New York stores, the centuries-old bazaars of Delhi, the flea markets of Jodhpur or the souks of Marrakech, the co-creative director at Nicobar is at his happiest exploring the age-old customs that make people choose the perfect present for themselves and their loved ones.
“We began with the home”, he says about launching Nicobar’s gifting range, “and the home is where most gifting actually lives. Over time, we noticed that customers weren’t just shopping for themselves; they were coming in with occasions in mind - housewarmings, festivals, dinners, milestones. It’s a core expression of how people engage with Nicobar.” Naturally, it made sense to explore pieces keeping that thought behind gifting in mind.
“India celebrates with tradition and colour, but the sheer number of occasions can make gifting feel rushed”, he ruminates. “At Nicobar, we try to slow that moment down.” The philosophy is to make collections that flow onto each other, so that over the course of time, the gifts stop feeling like last-minute panic choices, but a repertoire of thoughtful gifts that follow each other over different occasions.
But in a world that increasingly opts for last minute buys and 10-minute deliveries, the thoughtfulness and care behind the act of gifting tends to lose itself. “Fast delivery can only solve for convenience; it doesn’t allow time for reflection, thought or careful choice.” Yet how does one combat that convenience? Through an experience that asks you to slow down for your loved ones. “Our stores are designed to encourage that pause, that moment of reflection. Gifting then becomes less about urgency and more about meaning and intent. It turns a transaction into a thoughtful act.”
It's when you remove this urgency that the magic happens. “A gift becomes meaningful when it reflects how well you know someone - their home, their habits, their small rituals,” adds Purohit. “Thoughtful design, honest materials and longevity play a huge role in that. When something continues to be used and lived with, it carries memory forward. That’s what we strive to design for.”
There's a silver lining in this speed-driven era, though. More and more men in the country are emotionally expressive and design aware, and that reflects in their gift selections. “Today's Indian man is far more conscious of aesthetics and sustainability,” he explains. “He is looking for gifts that feel personal, functional and quietly beautiful, not just generic placeholders. There’s been a clear shift from novelty to usefulness, and the modern man values objects that integrate into his everyday life - homeware, travel pieces, small lifestyle accents that feel elevated yet practical.
“Gifting is no longer about ticking a box, it’s about choosing something that feels aligned with how he lives,” he adds.