Effingut on Park Street hosted an engaging panel discussion centring on the theme of empowerment and sustainability that saw half a dozen women changemakers from different walks of life shed light on the topic. Organised by Zaarii, a curated marketplace for sustainable homegrown labels, the panellist included (l-r) Saira Shah Halim, social and peace activist; Pauline Laravoire, sustainability director, Techno India Group and co-founder of Y-East; Sujata Chatterjee, MD Twirl.store; Debasish Sen, IAS chairman and MD of HIDCO; Bratiti Bhattacharyya, secretary general, Shikshayatan Foundation; Priya Virmani, author; Dr Rupali Basu, managing director and CEO, Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital Ltd; and Aishwarya Biswas, founder of Auli Active Ayurveda.
While Aishwarya shared her aggressive marketing strategy, Bratiti spoke about how she empowers students at her school and Saira spoke of the need to unite to empower more women. Debasish Sen who was the chief guest of the evening said, “I really like the word ‘responsible fashion’. This is the era of lifestyle statement of the environment. Like one of the 75 goals listed by the government is to donate your clothes, we have a Zero Shop in New Town where we collect old clothes from people, size it up, wash it and in a brown paper give it at a princely price and it’s a reasonable success. My point is let’s join hands in this; if we can work together, it will create a great synergy.”
The discussion was followed by a fashion walk.
Manu Gulati (middle)
“Sustainability is very close to us. Over the years preservatives and artificial flavourings have been added to beer, so it’s no longer what it used to be. There are other chemicals and artificial enzymes as well. So, for us sustainability is going back to the roots, to make craft beers the way they were made. Hundred years ago, there were no short-cuts but pure raw materials and that’s what we are going back to — sustainable produce, helping out the farmers and going back to beer as it was supposed to be,” says Manu Gulati, founder and master brewer at Effingut.
“Zaarii is a curated marketplace dwelling on responsible fashion and lifestyle, promoting homegrown brands from all parts of India. It is our constant endeavour to search, select and promote local talents who are trying to bring forward the incredible heritage of India’s art and culture through their work. With this curtain-raiser property EmpowHer we have curated a platform through which we bring forward stories of thought leaders, changemakers and women entrepreneurs who are trying to create a difference to our society by embracing relevant issues of sustainability, global warming and climate change, so that together we can create a greener, cleaner and safer planet,” says Praabal Kumar Basu, founder and CEO Zaarii.
Aishwarya Biswas, founder, Auli Active Ayurveda
Preeyam Budhia, president, Patton Group and co-founder, Cafe ICanFlyy
Actor Rachana Banerjee
Beauty and hair expert Bridgette Jones
Participants of the fashion show pose with Praabal Kumar Basu, founder and CEO Zaarii
Pauline Laravoire
Anjana Chowdhury
Pictures: Rashbehari Das