Items on display included Indo-western clothing, jewellery, and body-care products. The organisers are now planning a "Winter Cut".
Several women entrepreneurs, under the banner of The Fashion Bungalow. (Supplied)
Several women entrepreneurs, under the banner of The Fashion Bungalow, came together in Hyderabad’s upscale Jubilee Hills area recently to showcase a range of products at a niche, flea market-like event simply titled the “Summer Cut”.
The inaugural event, with more promised in the coming months, showcased the work of some 30 women — including tennis star Sania Mirza’s sister Anam — offering customised items such as jewellery, Indo-western wear, and accessories like handbags.
There were also stalls showcasing body-care products and one exclusively for imaginative and exquisitely crafted items for those in search of unique gifting ideas.
Royal gifts and wraps stall on display. (Supplied)
“The idea is to bring fashion to the comfort of people under one roof. So we organised this for people to come and set up their stalls as well as participate,” organiser and fashion enthusiast Lavanya Jagarlamudi told South First.
She organised the event at her home along with her partners — Sirisha Mulupuru and Shilpika K.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, most entrepreneurs have also started selling their products online — but nothing quite beats a physical sale.
“Word of mouth is very important for such events, as they help in spreading information about products. Footfalls are also a big concern as, at the end of the day, it is all about how many sales we make,” Archana Bikkina, who runs the gifting store Royal Gifts & Wraps, told South First.
The footfall at the event was mostly for clothing, which included kurtis, sarees, dupattas (stole) and other items.
Partners Meena and Rani, and Meena’s daughter Ishwarya Kantamani, came all the way from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to sell Banarasi silk sarees under their brand Vastrakala.
Jest Dupattas and Vastrakala stalls. (Supplied)
“My mother started this business three years back. She wanted to retrieve old sarees with new fabric. We outsource sarees collected from weavers all across India,” Ishwarya told South First.
Some stalls exhibited stoles, locally known as dupattas.
“All our dupattas are made in handlooms. The fabric is either pathani, zari kota, kanjeeveram, pochampally, or kalamkari. As handlooms are vanishing, we hire weavers and women painters for our products,” Jest Dupatta cofounder Sandhya Bikkina, who was accompanied by her partner Sravanti, told South First.
Summer dresses were being sold at another stall, called Studio Niranjana.
“I have been doing it for eight years now. The idea is to provide comfort and minimal clothing,” founder Niranjana from Ahmedabad told South First.
Three years ago, Archana Bikkina from Kondapur launched her gift and wrapping business with Sravani.
Jewellery accessories on display. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
“I started this business out of my passion for gift items. We customise items for children as well as adults. We sell items like home decor, gift boxes and baskets, customised clocks and many such items,” said Archana, adding that they also arrange gifts for marriages, weddings and birthdays.
She was elated about her sales going well for the day.
As many as two stalls were for skin care and hair care products, and artificial jewellery.
While the body care items included face washes, pigmentation and acne care products, jewellery included mostly bangles, necklaces and earrings.
The organisers now plan to hold a winter edition in October this year at the same venue.
May 15, 2024
May 15, 2024
May 15, 2024
May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024
