Chennai's multi-designer concept store Maal Gaadi turns five and they're celebrating it with a showcase

From having just 12 brands under their name five years back, to now having 95 designers we take a look at some of the designers who will be there for the first time 
Swoon's festive edit
Swoon's festive edit

From housing just 12 brands five years ago, to now having over 95 designers at the store, Shahin Ansari, the founder of Maal Gaadi sure has come a long way. She had envisioned a concept that was not a typical cookie cutter store, and over the years, she has achieved just that. “It’s been an interesting five years,” says Shahin. “We’ve learnt to do our curation in a more minimal way now, as opposed to having their entire collection,” she says adding that although initially they focussed on established designers, she wanted it to be a stepping stone for young talent. Celebrating the milestone, we take look at Fabulous 5, and some of the designers who will be in the city for the first time. 


Suit up! 
Twenty-five-year old Niharika Gupta from Noida takes inspiration from a rather odd source — her school uniform. As a teenager, she used to wonder how versatile a uniform was. “It suited everybody’s body type! So I wanted to make uniform clothing for urban women,” says the designer who started her label Notebook in 2018. The design graduate is inspired by the 19th century menswear which she then transforms into smart pieces for women. “Plaids, checks, stripes — they’re all converted into modern, feminine wear. They’re not classics. I just like to merge two classics to make something completely new.” With eight tailors and a work unit in Noida, Niharika’s new collection Zero-One will be bringing in about 25-30 styles of jumpsuits. 
Starting at `4,000.

Pinstriped dresses from Swoon
Pinstriped dresses from Swoon


Pixels and Pocahontas
After working with Tanishq and CuroCarte, 27-year-old Aditi Nathani decided to start her own jewellery brand called Palette. From cool and quirky pixelated jewellery to pieces inspired by the dual nature of sunrises and sunsets, this Indian designer who was brought up in Indonesia, is all about conventional design aesthetics. “I wanted to break the notion that silver jewellery always has to be traditional,” says Aditi. Based out of Jaipur, she has tied up with a factory from where  she source the silver, which she adds is always 925 sterling silver. She also imports beads and materials from Indonesia, given that they’re volcanic in nature. Watch out for her Pocahontas collection of necklaces and earrings named after native American women, Cirque, Thrift and Pixels. Starting at `3,500. 

Palette's Pocahontas collection
Palette's Pocahontas collection


Stories from the Serengeti
Coming to Chennai for the first time, Kolkata-based jewellery brand Zohra takes inspiration from animals of the Savannah. Le Animaux is a 40-piece collection of necklaces, rings and earrings started by sisters Richi Kataruka Kedia and Aishwarya Kataruka in 2017. The two decided to opt for handmade jewellery made without the use of mass produced manuufacturing machinery. The contemporary minimalistic line comes in different 3D geometric designs. “The designs are all made of brass with a gold plating, that are done by artisans in West Bengal,” says Aishwarya. Starting price at `1,350. 

From today till December 1.At Maal Gaadi, Besant Nagar. From 11 am onwards. 

 

Related Stories

No stories found.
Indulgexpress
www.indulgexpress.com