Suta Bombay, which now has a Calcutta presence as well, much to the relief of its Calcutta patrons, is all about saris that redefine the words ‘comfort’ and ‘luxury’. Keeping these two concepts at the core of its design aesthetics, Suta launched its new festive collection this year that is all about channelling glam in weaves that seamlessly blend these two factors in versatile ways. Since Durga Puja is incomplete for us Calcuttans without pandal hopping, we styled a street-style lookbook with Suta saris. Celebrity drapist Dolly Jain draped three unique drapes on the models, and Neha Gandhi Binjrajka put a funky touch to the looks with her styling.
Our first chosen spot for the trio shot was the vibrant Samaj Sebi Sangha puja pandal’s entrance featuring a sari-themed decor, and for the solo shots, we chose some lanes of south Calcutta where we spotted the old Calcutta charm tucked away here and there.
DESIGNER SPEAK
“Festivities give each of us the opportunity to recharge and restore our inner light. This Roshni Se Bhare collection of festive blouses and saris celebrates the light that shines bright in each one of us. It is inspired by all the little details and the special people who come together to make festivals memorable and worth looking forward to,” said Sujata and Taniya Biswas, founders of Suta.
Talking about the Jhoomro Junction collection, they said: “The idea behind this range was centered around convenience. Embroidered or sequined with fine detailing are words or phrases that can instinctively imply heavy festive wear, especially in the Indian apparel scene. We did not want to take away from the regal magic of chikankari but at the same time, wished for our diverse clientele to feel comfortable in it. We have therefore used cotton kota, a thoroughly breathable fabric.”
For the Devi collection, the Biswas sisters said: “Titled Devi, the collection is inspired by the nine emotional states of Navaratri. Accordingly, it comprises nine saris, each of which embodies and interprets a specific emotion. This collection is very special to us, as we’re bringing back the Mashru weave in an all-new avatar. We’ve added the Suta touch to this heirloom craft with the infusion of gold and silver zari, and the unconventional colour combinations. The gorgeous design of the blouses included in this collection evokes the nostalgic charm of a bygone era with a contemporary twist.”
(left) Dolly Jain draped Priyanka Das in a blue cotton silk sari called ‘Sapphire and Secrets’ from Suta’s Roshni Se Bhare collection that celebrates the light that shine within us through the bright shades with a hint of shine. The softness and lightweight feel of this breathable hybrid fabric makes it apt for wearing the year round, but what makes it apt for the festive look is the subtle sheen.
(middle) Diti Saha flaunted Suta’s ‘Gupshup under the Sun’ sari — a yellow kota sari featuring chikankari work. This sari is from the Jhoomro Junction collection that spotlights the old-world charm of Lucknowi chikankari, an embroidery pattern that reflects the intricate carvings of Mughal architecture. The soothing shades, and the soft and easy-breezy drapes of cotton kota are eye-catching. Dolly Jain gave a contemporary touch to this sari to make it more appealing to the contemporary generation.
(right) Ushoshi Sengupta channelled a glam look in this bright pink-and-red sari from Suta’s Devi collection called ‘Nurturing Nirupa’. This sari is from Suta’s collection of Mashru saris for this festive season featuring the comfy feel of cotton with the luxury of silk. The touch of zari borders adds an old-world charm to this sari designed contemporarily with bold colour blocking. The sari has been paired with a silk statement blouse from Suta. “This sari has been handwoven by a master weaver in the Mashru tradition, a weave that is said to have originated in 19th century West Asia,” said Sujata and Taniya Biswas, founders of Suta.
Decoding the Drape Drama:
“For Ushoshi’s look, I draped the sari with normal pleats but we took the palla around the shoulders and crunched the sari around the waist. We chose this drape because when one is going for pandal hopping, they won’t want the drapes to be hanging around causing inconvenience. For Diti, the kind of waist that she has, I really wanted to enhance it. For this look, we first did the basic drape. Since the sari has embroidery on both sides, we wanted to highlight that. So, we used sneakers, shades and crunched the whole sari with a belt to give a beautiful look both from the front and the back. For Priyanka, we did a basic drape till the pleats up to the waist, crunched it around the waist and then draped it like a dupatta around the shoulder,” said Dolly Jain.
Styling Note:
“We used a lot of funky jewellery to give a fun edge to the shoot. We kept sneakers, belts and some funky jewellery pieces. The Suta saris have a festive appeal and people can definitely style them in this manner during Puja this year,” said Neha Gandhi Binjrajka.
Hair and Make-up Notes:
“For Ushoshi, we chose bright lips and a liner look, the hair was pulled up into a messy bun. Diti’s look was very fresh and elegant. I gave her a pop colour on the lip and tied her hair into a ponytail. For Priyanka, since she has short curly hair, we kept it open and applied a blue-winged liner for the make-up and complemented it with a muted shade for the lips,” said Bhaskar Biswas, make-up pro.
Models: Priyanka Das, Diti Saha and Ushoshi Sengupta
Draping: Dolly Jain
Styling: Neha Gandhi Binjrajka
Make-up: Bhaskar Biswas
Hair: Srijita Roy
D'coat for saris: I AM by Dolly Jain
Jewellery: Cuprum Quirks
Hospitality: The Corner Courtyard