Ankit Jain, Founder of Specta Quartz Surfaces, shares his insights on the company’s innovative approach to engineered quartz, commitment to sustainability and strategies for expanding its luxury presence. In an exclusive email interaction with Tejaswini Paranjape, he discusses the buzz around the newly launched Pastel Poise collection and its appeal to the architects and interior designers.
1. Your Pastel Poise showcase at ACE Reflect drew over 1,000 visitors and 300 active leads—how do you see this overwhelming response shaping Specta’s product strategy in the pastel quartz category?
The response to our Pastel Poise collection has been exceedingly positive so far, reaffirming our belief that Indian homeowners are ready to move on from the usual blacks, whites and greys that have dominated interiors. This momentum is shaping our product strategy. Considering the positive feedback and demand for stones in colours like pink & lavender, we are working on expanding the pastel portfolio with shades like red and yellow. This will be a gamechanger for the Indian market and allow homeowners, architects and designers to envisage projects with quartz stones that have not been possible so far.
2. Architects from Coimbatore, Salem, and Tiruppur called Pastel Poise “highly unique” after seeing full slabs—what role do you think regional feedback like this will play in steering future design launches?
Regional feedback plays a crucial role in shaping our design direction. Markets like Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruppur are not only expanding rapidly but also bring a distinct local flavour that globalised metros often miss. We believe that design should be a confluence of local preferences and global aesthetics, and the on-ground insights we receive at exhibitions help us innovate collections that resonate both regionally and nationally. We have already built strong distribution channels in hubs like Pune, Coimbatore and Hyderabad, and are deepening our footprint further. In Tamil Nadu alone, we plan to invest INR 1 crore over the next 12 months to strengthen engagement across homeowners, distributors and architects, ensuring that our designs reflect the aspirations of these markets.
3. What inspired Specta to launch India’s first pastel quartz collection?
We saw a clear gap in the market—while homeowners could experiment with pastels in laminates, wall paints or furnishings, there was no option in stone surfaces that aligned with these aesthetics. With Pastel Poise, we wanted to change that and bring a fresh design language to Indian interiors. The collection challenges the long-standing dominance of bold and monochromatic quartz by proving that subtlety can be just as striking. Inspired by nature’s gentlest tones, we curated four shades: Gulmarg Pink, Mint Mirage, Lavender Crest and Azure Haze. Backed by Bretonstone technology, these stones are not only beautiful but also hygienic, scratch- and stain-resistant, and built to last. Pastel Poise is more than a new collection, it has set a new standard in the industry and changed the way homeowners design their spaces.
4. How do you see quartz surfaces evolving as both a lifestyle and design statement in Indian homes?
Quartz has moved far beyond being just a practical surface material, and is fast becoming a design signature in modern Indian homes. With its ability to offer durability, low maintenance and hygiene certifications like NSF, alongside stunning aesthetics, quartz allows homeowners to express their lifestyle choices through the very foundations of their interiors. Vastu-compliant colours and designs are increasingly guiding choices, as people seek interiors that promote positivity, balance and well-being. This dual demand for scientifically certified materials that align with cultural values is reshaping how homeowners select surfaces. They are no longer satisfied with generic finishes—they want their kitchens, living areas or even home bars to reflect personality, mood and style. That is where innovations like our Pastel Poise collection come in, introducing India’s first pastel quartz shades to offer elegance and individuality in design. Going forward, quartz will play a central role in shaping interiors not only as a functional necessity but as a deliberate lifestyle statement.
5. Among your collections, which themes or shades are architects responding to most strongly?
Our Aura collection has received the strongest response from architects, thanks to its bold and innovative designs that push beyond conventional quartz aesthetics. Slabs that combine green onyx with rustic brown and white veins, or serene blue with accents of rustic gold, have especially stood out. These designs are truly one-of-a-kind, not available with any other brand globally, which makes them highly aspirational for high-end projects. The success of Aura gave us the confidence to go all in with pastels, as it proved that the market is ready for bold experimentation and courageous design choices. In many ways, Aura set new benchmarks for the industry, captivating architects and even earning recognition from design leaders and industry luminaries.
6. As you expand into new regions, what’s your approach to connecting with architects, dealers, and homeowners locally?
Our expansion strategy is rooted in building strong local connections. We have found regional exhibitions to be invaluable for engaging directly with architects and dealers, while our curated social media content, especially high-quality renders, helps homeowners easily visualize design possibilities. To foster deeper relationships, we also host unique engagement initiatives like pickleball tournaments or architects and designers, creating an informal yet impactful touchpoint. On the ground, we have strong in-store branding at dealer showrooms to ensure visibility, and our proactive sales team works one-on-one with architects, dealers and designers to understand their needs. We have robust customer feedback channels, and have collected insights over time to improve our offerings. These insights flow directly to our R&D and product teams, enabling us to create and test samples quickly, keeping our offerings relevant and responsive to regional preferences. We have also leveraged this data to develop products in Vastu-compliant colours.
7. With design recognition and collaborations already in place, what’s the next milestone Specta is aiming for in 2025?
We want to establish Specta as the undisputed leader in the quartz surfaces category in India. The vision is simple: when people think of quartz, they should instinctively think of Specta. Just as certain brands become synonymous with their category, our goal is for Specta Quartz Surfaces to become the natural choice and benchmark for quality, design, and innovation in quartz. With our expanding product portfolio, bold design launches, and deepening architect and homeowner connections, we are confident of making Specta the name that defines quartz in India.
