Nivedita Jagadeesh on redefining luxury home decor in Chennai

It is rare to find a home décor brand that balances classic luxury with modern aesthetics. Nivedita Jagadeesh, founder of Sobè Décor, embraces this challenge wholeheartedly with her latest venture, Kukoo. She talks to Indulge about what inspired her to start a platform that appeals to younger audiences without diluting Sobè’s identity, how she provides independent entrepreneurs a chance to understand retail, trends in tableware and dining, and more.

“Sobè is more than 10 years old. My background is in the hotel industry—mostly in sales and marketing. The building where my store is located actually belongs to my father. He runs a very old Chennai brand called Chit Chat,” says Nivedita, whose family has been the sole importers and distributors of Noritake tableware in India for almost 30 years. “Yes, the Japanese brand—very high-end and well-known globally. When I took over the business around 2017–2019, after finishing my hotel career, I restructured everything and launched Sobè Décor. The idea was to bring multiple luxury tableware brands under one roof, not just stick to one,” she says giving us a glimpse into how it all began.

Sobè comes from Sophisticated Bespoke. The name was inspired by the Soho district in New York—something sophisticated but with a slightly edgy, contemporary vibe. “Our core speciality has always been everything around the table—crockery, cutlery, glassware, linens, table décor.

While redesigning Sobè Décor, Nivedita realised that although it’s a luxury space, it can sometimes feel intimidating to a younger audience—even those who can afford to spend. “I wanted to create something more accessible, without diluting Sobè’s identity. Kukoo was born as a curated platform for young, independent entrepreneurs who don’t have their own retail space,” she shares.