Mitali Rannorey is stunning. Period. The Bangalore-born model who is married to Calcutta boy Avishek Bambii Das has made many a jaw drop with her gorgeous looks and tall frame, on the runways. Her height has now served as the inspiration for Avishek and her venture Omaago! The sari label which soft-launched a couple of weeks back and is a fusion of the couple’s “thoughts and minds”, has a hilarious genesis, narrated equally sportingly by the lovely duo. Read on…

How was Omaago! born?

Mitali: Being in the fashion industry for eight years, I got to wear some amazing saris… Sabyasachi. I have always loved saris. If you ask any choreographer, I have always said ‘give me saris’… everybody is running away from saris. After we got married, I got to see his sister and relatives wear these beautiful saris from Bengal.

The idea came up in the lockdown. We happened to meet this weaver who often comes home and he was telling us about how badly the industry is affected and how they need help. Hence Omaago!

Who suggested the name?

Mitali: A lot of relatives of his (Avishek) would go ‘O maa go!’ after seeing me! (Laughs)

Avishek: I think it is largely because of her height (6ft)!

Where are the saris from?

Mitali: They are from Phulia, Murshidabad…

Avishek: Chanderi, Bolpur…. We wanted to try and help as many weavers as possible. Fortuitously, we have a lot of connections with people in Chanderi. There was a guy who had interned with me and I remember him telling me that his family makes Chanderi saris. So, I reached out to him and all the Chanderi saris you saw are all from his family. Similarly, there are connections we have in Lucknow for chikankari. They are on their way. We have stunning Benarasis. We also know someone in Kanchipuram. We have tried to take saris which are very different and beautiful.

Mitali: So, for my wedding, I had gone to Kanchipuram to buy saris. I had those connections also. So, everything just fell into place.

What are your roles? How has it been working together?

Mitali: I am the technical person… what goes on the website and how the website looks. He is a man of taste. We both shortlist and then we do another shortlist.

Avishek: I manage the sourcing and talking to weavers.

Mitali: It’s been fun working together. Strangely we don’t see each other much. He is in a different room and I am in another and he has other things to manage as well. ‘Let’s talk about this!’ ‘Please make yourself available’. ‘Tell me when you are free’. (Laughs)

Avishek: She is a fantastic boss (smiles).

Tell us about your sari loves…

Mitali: I have always had a fascination towards it. As a child also, I would take my mother’s dupatta and try and wear it as a sari. I am not as much a sari hoarder, but most are my mom’s wedding saris… the Benarasis and the shalus. I like Chanderis. So, I have my own collection. Kanjeevarams too. I collected the white-and-red Bengali saris during the wedding and also gotten gifted that. I like the combination.

What has been the response like?

Avishek: Fantastic. We ourselves have been bowled over.

So, Mitali, this is the future?

Mitali: No… I want to go back to modelling! So, it’s both. (Laughs)

1. This kora tissue sari is all about subtle elegance. “How beautifully does gold and silver blend into each other,” said Mitali. “It’s got an antique gold look. Classy and great for a reception or a formal occasion,” said Avishek. The Omaago! saris are priced at Rs 1,800 onwards. “We plan to give a discount code for your readers. Go to the e-commerce website (www.omaago.co.in) and just before checking out, you can type the code T220 and you get a 20 per cent discount on the entire range,” said Avishek. Pabitra Das; hair & make-up: Abhijit Chanda

2. Mitali looks straight out of a Raja Ravi Varma painting in this Benarasi katan silk. “We wanted to do something different. We thought this was an unusual colour,” said Mitali. Brown eye-shadow, lots of mascara, brown eye pencil, brownish-peach lips and a soft toss of the hair made this look day to night. Pabitra Das; hair & make-up: Abhijit Chanda

3. “I am born and raised in Bangalore. So the Kanjeevaram saris are these royalty pieces. So, I have grown up with that in my mind. I have seen people dress in Kanjeevarams during festivities,” said Mitali as she draped this Kanjeevaram. The copper eyeshadow added the glam edge. Pabitra Das; hair & make-up: Abhijit Chanda

4. We draped this Chanderi in a traditional Bengali style. And look how resplendent Mitali looks! Pabitra Das; hair & make-up: Abhijit Chanda

5. The red bindi gave the touch of Bangaliana to the cotton minakari Benarasi. And, the flowers a festive vibe. “It’s traditional with a twist of the modern and you can team it with any jewellery,” said Mitali. Pabitra Das; hair & make-up: Abhijit Chanda