Indigene, a brand created by friends-cum-batchmates Jaya Bhatt and Ruchi Tripathi offers some really cool options in comfort clothing and has come a long way since its inception in 2012. In retailing since 2016, this erstwhile wholesale label will be here in Kolkata on August 8 with their latest collection including dresses, tunics, tops, jackets and some stylish bottoms like drop-crotch pants.
"We aim at creating something quirky which is comfortable at the same time since we are mostly into daily wear," says Jaya, a NIFT graduate, who has worked extensively in the handicraft sector before coming up with their own label. Hence all their clothes have a distinct stamp of earthy designs, tie-dye work, block printing and hand embroidery. The silhouettes are all very easy-going and flowy, ensuring that you can wear them for long hours.
The Delhi-based brand can be called a sustainable label since they work in close cohesion with the local community using local weaving and design techniques. "There's no factory structure and we generate work for more than 30 female embroiderers in the area apart from 20 more in a separate stitching unit," tells Jaya. With a presence in different designer stores across cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa, this will be Indigene's first exhibition at Istara, where they will be offering some very stylish outfits at a discounted price.
"We have no presence in Kolkata and are eagerly looking forward to how the city reacts to our clothes. Apart from our clothes, we will also be bringing some very attractive clutches and bags made with waste fabrics from our upcycle collection," tells an excited Jaya, whose label has been flaunted by Bollywood actors Rasika Dugal, Dia Mirza Tisca Chopra among others.
With the main thrust upon comfortable clothes in natural fabrics like cotton, silk cotton and khadi, the colour palette of their collection has hues of red, blue, black, ochre and some neutrals like grey and white.
Indigene's collection will be available at Istara on Sarat Bose Road on August 8 from 11 am to 8 pm.
Price: from Rs 4,000 onwards