JOIN USMulti-brand jewellery shop NIMAI recently hosted a two-day pop-up fashion event titled ‘Travelling Trunk’, in which 16 Kolkata-based designers participated and showcased their collection of apparels, bags, footwear and jewellery.
Popular names likes Paromita Banerjee, Kallol Datta and Vasundhara Mantri to newbies Vasavi Shah and Blank Slate were among the participating designers.
Curated by fashion stylist Cheeky Goenka, the event aimed at promoting the idea of ‘made in Bengal’. According to her, “There is so much talent in Bengal which needs to be showcased to the world. This event is just a small step forward in that direction. And what would have been better than the fashion hub Delhi to start with. People here are very open to experiment. And when they get good things, there is no compromise.”
Pooja Roy Yadav, founder NIMAI, says, “I have known Cheeky since some time now. And when she shared the idea behind Travelling Trunk, no second thoughts were required. As NIMAI also deals with a similar idea of promoting unique and indigenous crafts and craftsmen, we started planning for the event. It is nice to see how people here are keen to accept fashion from other parts of the country.”
From easy and fun clothing to elegant jewellery, funky footwear and chic bags, Traveling Trunk had it all. While Eshaani Jayaswal showcased her collection of cool applique summer, Blank Slate collection comprised comfortable separates for a fun twist on formal-wear with a colour palette ranging from monochromatic to earthy. Rohan Arora showcased his quirky and high-end handcrafted fashion footwear.
Goenka says, “All the items are hand-picked. I chose only those designers whose creations I will myself go for. They are rooted yet contemporary and modern. Also, everything here costs between Rs 2,500 to not more than Rs 20,000. The prices are kept low so that more people can buy them.”
She shares that she plans to take the show to other parts of the country like Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Indore. “The next edition will be bigger. There will be more designers, more options of products for people to choose from,” she says.