A heritage festival at a heritage den. Kanishka’s, the 52-year-old Kolkata born and bred brand known for their unique block-printed saris, is back with the annual Tussar Utsav. Nandita Raja of Kanishka’s tells us what to expect this year.
You have been hosting Tussar Utsav for how many years now?
It’s been over two decades now that we have successfully showcased Tussar Utsav and it’s been one of our most loved exhibitions. There are enquiries about the Tussar Utsav throughout the year. There have been times when people living abroad have planned their visit back to Kolkata according to our exhibition dates. It makes us overwhelmingly happy to know that there’s a special bond that our Tussar Utsav has created for over two decades now.
What’s the display like this year?
This year we are showcasing an array of designs from all over the country. A wide variety of our block-printed tussores will be on display, the very best of Telia tussores , tussore Benarasis and tussores with rich and intricate Kashmiri embroidery. Apart from these we will also be showcasing our shibori and kalamkari tussores.
What are the highlights?
The last two years of our lives have been quite restricted due to the pandemic. This year I notice a sense of joy and happiness in everything that one is doing, similarly people are going all out to look and feel their best.I have also been noticing a growing trend of wearing saris amongst all age groups, especially the younger lot. Suddenly sari is everyone’s favourite attire. We would earlier focus on earthy tones, but this year we will be showcasing a whole range of bright colours like shocking pink, orange, yellow, red, green, blue, as these colours seem to be in demand not only amongst youngsters but most of our customers.
What is the USP of this showcase?
Our USP has always been the wide variety we offer under one roof, we have tussores from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Kashmir... all unique in their designs and craftsmanship. Each sari has its story, its journey and is put together with a lot of love to give our customers the best.
How best to style your tussore this season?
I have always maintained that tussore looks the best with silver oxidised jewellery, a statement neckpiece maybe or a pair of pretty oxidised earrings. We can also play around with the choice of blouses. There’s a slight nip in the air and I sometimes style my tussore saris with a polo-neck sweater. I am also a big fan of shirt blouses and they go very well with tussore saris. The idea is to keep it simple but elegant.