The brightly lit Senator Hall of The Residency buzzes with the fashion conscious. The eighth edition of Fashionista, the lifestyle exhibition, is on. Presented by Pawan Shankar, the expo displays around 38 stalls from across the country.
This year’s edition is a jewellery lover’s delight. Women try out the terracotta earrings and beaded necklaces at the stall put up by Hersh Goyal, from Bangalore. His chunky terracotta neckpieces, inspired from the South Indian Temple jewellery, are perfect for Kanjeevaram saris. He also stocks beaded anklets, minakari earrings and neckpieces.
Sun Moon Jewellery from Bombay is difficult to resist with its glimmering earrings priced between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 35,000. There are traditional gold-covered silver bangles at Colossal Hyderabad Jewels. For youngsters, there are funky beaded bangles, priced at Rs. 300 a pair, at Style Secret Mumbai. Stylish neon tunics with trendy cuts and prints await you at Poonam and Teju. Milan Fashionz offers linen tops, priced between Rs. 750 and Rs. 1300. Designer saris in georgettes, crepes and chiffons find expression in Niharika Rao’s stall. Her jute dupattas, priced at Rs. 500, are pretty.
And how can one miss out on the tussar and the Kota silks. Aditi Trivedi from Kolkatta beckons you with her elegant tussar silk saris, with thread works, block and batik prints. Pracheen Boutique from Hyderabad have grand kota saris. Sisters Soujanya and Gayatri Rao have been selling Kota saris for the past 35 years. They source their saris from Rajasthan. “When we started the business, Kota saris did not find many takers in Hyderabad. But now they have become extremely popular because they are light, manageable and grand at the same,” says Gayatri.
Looking for blouse pieces? Head to Shibori Designer from Ahmedabad, which woo you with their ready made blouses featuring Kutch work and zardozis. Made of silk and tissue fabric, these are priced between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 6000.
Cute ghagras for kids between six months and 15 are available at Fairy Designz. Aparna Hundekar, the owner, says how it all started from her tailoring clothes for her baby girl. “People used to appreciate her clothes. So I thought why not develop it into a business?” What began as a small outlet, with one tailor, at the basement of her house has now developed into a full-fledged one with more than 25 tailors.
Apart from clothes and jewellery, there are clutches, mobile pouches, home décor items and wall hangings. Oh…And did I forget to mention the banana shaped lunch boxes, family tooth brush stands, tongue cleaners and duppatas with cow prints, inspired from a sari worn by Shilpa Shetty in ‘Nach Baliye’ ?
Fashionista is on at The Residency till December 8 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m
