Elahe, synonymous with Hyderabad, ventured out of the city for the first time in 20 years, to come to Kolkata in 2019. This March, the multidesigner store brings a slice of the city of pearls to Kolkata with ‘A Hyderabad Affair’. The Telegraph caught up with a few designers showcasing at the edit.
Hyderabad means...
Prathyusha Garimella: Hyderabad means a city full of rich heritage, history and culture.
Varun Chakkilam: The opulent city that raised me to become aware of my creative skills through its rich and dynamic culture. The city is intertwined with various sides of it, including the essence of one of the oldest cultures. The presence of Film City and youth culture, however, lets one stay grounded to the roots along with enabling one to explore their creative fashion side.
Swapna Anumolu of Mishru: Childhood and daydreams.
A craft of the state that you love and have made it a part of your label…
Prathyusha: Having a huge Nizami influence with zardozi, we’ve incorporated pitta work, a kind of zardozi where the metal wires are beaten with a wooden hammer to flatten it to give a uniform appearance. This has gone on to become our signature embroidery.
Varun: My personal style lies in combining contemporary elements in my work with the mix of tradition and hence we feel more connected to the zardozi embroidery of Hyderabad.
Swapna: Hyderabad has talented embroidery craftsmen and all our surfaces are hand-embroidered here.
What are you showcasing in Kolkata?
Prathyusha: We are showcasing our bridal lehngas and pre-stitched sari drapes and Anarkalis with a modern twist, in our signature pitta work in jewel tones.
Varun: We are introducing our new collection ‘Arcane Gardenia’, which is one such exploration of finding beauty between the twills and turns of a dahlia, in the blush of a rosette, the mellowness found between the scent of night jasmine. This collection features an array of styles for men and women, who find themselves celebrating their moments with a hint of nature on their side.
Swapna: Our eternal summer collection filled with vibrant florals and intricately embroidered surfaces.
What’s common between Hyderabad and Kolkata when it comes to art and craft?
Prathyusha: Extremely skilled artisans who know the ancient craft passed on from generations.
Varun: Hyderabad and Kolkata, two cities that have got a lot more in common than what meets the eye. Both were the epicentre of all dynamic changes in fields of arts, literature and music in medieval and colonial India, their aesthetics intertwined for ages to come.
Swapna: The love for intricately embroidered surfaces.
A Kolkata designer you love:
Prathyusha: Anamika Khanna for her design aesthetics and sensibilities.
Varun: The capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata is plethoric in terms of creativity. Generations of artistry still run wild in the veins of this city. As a child I found myself gravitating towards its vivid culture, and talented personnel that accumulated fame around the globe and henceforth give many acknowledged artists and designers to the nation, like the one we are all familiar with, Sabyasachi.
Swapna: Kolkata has many amazing designers and it’s hard to pick one.
Hyderabad means...
Prathyusha Garimella: Hyderabad means a city full of rich heritage, history and culture.
Varun Chakkilam: The opulent city that raised me to become aware of my creative skills through its rich and dynamic culture. The city is intertwined with various sides of it, including the essence of one of the oldest cultures. The presence of Film City and youth culture, however, lets one stay grounded to the roots along with enabling one to explore their creative fashion side.
Swapna Anumolu of Mishru: Childhood and daydreams.
About the event
What: A Hyderabad Affair
Where: Elahe, 23 Ritchie Road
On till: March 10
Timings: 11am-8pm
Who’s showing: Anushree Reddy, Jayanti Reddy, Mrunalini Rao, Mishru, Varun Chakkilam, Prathyusha Garimella, Swathi Veldandi