How Kolkata-based pop-up platform Pilitaxi is bringing artisanal fashion labels from across India to Chennai

To curate Pilitaxi’s first-ever pop-up successful Chennai, its laminitis Bijaya Dutta, who describes the travelling accumulation level arsenic a signifier for homegrown, artisanal and autarkic brands rooted successful practice techniques, kept the coastal city’s clime successful mind. The idea, she says, was to enactment successful brands featuring breathable fabrics, handcrafted cottons, artisanal jewellery and handcrafted footwear. “Chennai has a beardown appreciation for textiles, craftsmanship, and conscious fashion, making it a meaningful marketplace for us,” she says.

With a full of 22 brands successful tow, the pop-up aims to present the metropolis to labels similar Beige, O Layla, Winglore, Slomotion, Atouri, Woolknitters and Bahi. On their maiden outing astatine The Folly, Amethyst, connected May 16 and 17, these brands connection not conscionable exclusivity but besides chiseled trade narratives done their textiles and motifs.

Bijaya explains: “For instance, each Atouri garment is created astatine a dilatory gait by weavers successful Bengal. Designs scope from checks and handblock prints to manus embroidery. The textiles see handspun and handwoven fabric mul and linen sourced from antithetic regions successful India. Similarly, Beige uses axenic fabrics and reinterprets antithetic creation forms done hand-drawn patterns that are yet translated into ensembles utilizing in-house prints and embroideries. Also, Woolknitters, from Himachal, celebrates accepted Kullu craftsmanship done woven wool shawls inspired by upland life, alongside charming hand-crocheted creations similar the Jhujhurana bird.”

Born successful Kolkata successful 2000, Pilitaxi has hosted 63 retrospectives crossed 9 cities, including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Ahmedabad. “Chennai volition beryllium our 10th halt and 64th chapter,” Bijaya informs, adding that the venue excessively was handpicked due to the fact that its “vibe” matched with Pilitaxi.

Bijaya maintains that the pop-up has done rather well, referencing its caller outing successful Hyderabad wherever immoderate brands clocked income worthy ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh.

Of Pilitaxi’s fiscal model, she says, “We bash not enactment connected a profit-sharing basis; instead, we complaint a precise nominal information interest that includes marketing, promotions, furnishings setup, and wide lawsuit support. Beyond sales, brands payment from visibility, lawsuit interaction, and being portion of a thoughtfully curated community-driven platform.”

Of the galore offerings astatine the pop-up, Bijaya highlights 2 sari brands — Bunavat and Threads Per Inch. “We person occasion-wear brands similar Tatwa, Gulabik, Beige and an artisanal leather footwear marque Slomotion, which volition surely entreaty to the cityfolk,” Bijaya signs off.

Pop-up by Pilitaxi volition beryllium hosted astatine The Folly, Amethyst, connected May 16 and 17. Products commencement astatine ₹500.