Fashion label Esha Sethi Thirani, which launched in 2014 in Calcutta, has a new address in Topsia. The brand known for bespoke and ready-to-wear clothing for all body types is spread across a sprawling 2,500sq ft store that houses some timeless pieces in varied silhouettes, designs and cuts. t2 dropped by for a walkthrough and chatted with brand owner Esha Sethi Thirani. Excerpts...
Esha Sethi Thirani
Congrats on your new store! Tell us what prompted you to relocate.
My previous store was at Queens Park and we had a little bit of space constraints there. Now the brand has evolved and grown a lot in the past five-six years. We felt we needed to be seen, of course we have a rapport with our clients... Topsia is so well connected, where you get people from both ends of the city.
The store is clutter-free. What was the design aspect of the store?
I am happy to hear you mention clutter-free. I am a very understated, minimalistic kind of person, which I guess shows in my designs as well. So I wanted the brand essence to bring out my personal aesthetics. That’s why everything here is undertoned with touches of brass, micro concrete on the floor, a bit of tan...
Tell us about the collection.
(l-r) The store also houses their sister label — Other Label — that has ready-to-wear outfits. You can browse through beautiful pastel outfits in different silhouettes and aesthetics. We loved the Ophelia collection whose inspiration comes from the iconic painting of Ophelia — the innocent, enchanting yet tragic heroine of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “Her ethereal and dreamlike appearance has inspired us to create pieces that capture the same spirit of otherworldliness and romanticism. Ophelia is a true celebration of the past, with a modern twist that will transport you to a whimsical, ethereal world,” explained Esha
Apart from my collection Ophelia, which I had launched two-three months ago, our new collection will launch soon. Ophelia was about 3D embroidery. We have a wide variety of saris, lehngas, jumpsuits, pants... we have resortwear, cocktail options and so on. We did not want to limit it, we wanted to have something that would cater to all.
I plan to surprise with my new collection that will have more bridal and heavier outfits and colours. I am hoping people like it!
Who is an Esha Sethi Thirani girl?
At a cocktail night or Diwali taash party, this contemporary green rhinestone sari is a head-turner. Paired with their signature beaded off-shoulder corset blouse, it is #totalwin
I would want everyone to be EST girl! Anyone who is looking to experiment with silhouettes and have fun with their outfits is an EST girl.
You started your label in 2014... have you noticed a change in the city’s fashion game?
Oh yes, a lot! Back then people would be sceptical about low necks or to show skin... or say my clients would be iffy about very experimental fabrics... but now I feel everyone is ready to wear everything. My clients are now open to what I am offering them, so as a designer it lets me go all out. That has built my confidence too as I have now the freedom.
Then post-Covid there was a revenge buying. Nowadays everyone is confident about their body, plus size doesn’t matter, body hair doesn’t matter, men don’t shy away from wearing pink... skinny doesn’t matter because you are comfortable in your own skin, that is great.
(l-r) If you are a new-age bride seeking wedding options that are not red and, most importantly, lightweight to move around comfortably without compromising on the look, this gunmetal grey fishtail lehnga with peplum blouse needs your attention. Intricately embellished with bugle beads and beaded tassels from top to toe, this one's a stunner.
The label believes in making clothes for all body types. If you have a fuller body, don’t shy away from flaunting your curves and neither do you need to hide your arms. Instead, own them in this mint green sari adorned with Swarovski crystals on delicate tulle. We love the corset blouse that compliments the sari seamlessly.
If you find handling a regular sari cumbersome, go for a super easy sharara sari paired with a silver beaded blouse and layered with a tulle cape with sequin and thread work. The champagne pants and sari have detailed embroidery using microbeads that are simply beautiful.