Celebrating Bengal – is about love for Bengal its tradition, weaves, crafts, music, culture and food…and how Bengal is celebrated globally and loved by people from different parts of the world. This evening is all about their love for Bengali culture and I am really thankful to have the consulates and ex-pats from different parts of the world in our Bengal inspired collection. The Consulate General of the US Melinda Pavek, British high commission Nick low with his wife Karita Low, Australian CG Rowan Ainsworth, Thai CG Acharapan Yavaprapas and Director Alliance Francis Nicolas Facino walked the ramp along with the consuls and experts from 10 different nationalities.
This is the 4th Season and over the years the event has gotten bigger and better this time we bring a bridge between old-world charm and new-age Bengali.
This Season the ramp resembles the old Bengal rajbari look with a massive pillar structure and an extended walkway as the ramp. The music was specially curated by Gaurav Chakroborty of Lakhichara band fame to put together a mix of folk and jazz together. The event was hosted by Sumeet Suri, the General manager of Jw Marriott Kolkata in association with luxury brands like BMW 7 series, Suntory whisky, Century, YLo and many more.
The Babu culture… Bengal use to be the capital of India under the East India company’s rule and kind of developed its own cross over global style with Bengal textiles and crafts and European cuts. The collection is inspired by that and I have used traditional Bengal weaves from dhakai jamdani, tangail, santipuri, baluchuri teamed with structured jackets and lace blouses and traditional menswear of dhoti kurta with more structured lapel jackets and Bengals motifs are inspired from typical Bengal motifs from owl to fish and made from rich handwoven fabrics from cotton, silk and even wool by Bengal weavers.
The modern twist is the Neo Bengali, which is the new generation of youngsters who refuses to wear our traditional attire or occasionally wear it during festivities. now folk art with a neon palette with various prints from chau mask bothers Raja and Bengal tiger …modern yet rooted. The garments are still made from handwoven linen, linen denim and cotton khadi. Structured boleros, teamed with flowy dresses and wide-legged trousers set the mood. The new age collection reminds us that we can be stylish yet have our tradition playing a part.
The grand finale was special as Veteran and iconic singer Usha Uttup sings her mesmerising track Kolkata to give a tribute to the city of Joy as the superstar of Tollywood presented Chatterjee walks as a showstopper along with new-age sensation Ditipriya Roy to make the show end at a grand note.
By Saif Rahman Sozib