Kolkata-based label Garo focusses on classic yet low-key looks

 Kolkata-based label Garo has found its niche in bespoke embroidered occasion wear and focuses on classic, but low-key wearability  
A traditional embroidered long jacket
A traditional embroidered long jacket

Desi power dressing is a big thing in 2019, and Kolkata-based luxury couture label, Garo is making all the right moves. Famous for its intricate and bespoke embroidery, the brand has a popular client base, including names like Sania Mirza and Madhuri Dixit

“We try to focus a lot on our silhouettes and drapes, to give them a relevant and modern vibe. And we, of course, pay a lot of attention to our embroidery. Our new collection, for instance, is set to feature embroidery on Banarasi pieces, and we are really interested to see the reactions,” Sweta Tantia, the creative mind behind Garo, tells us. The NIFT graduate also reveals that she named her label after the tribe of indigenous people from Assam. 

<em>A drape lehenga with a long embroidered jacket by Garo</em>
A drape lehenga with a long embroidered jacket by Garo

Garo has been around for five years now, and is quite a steady favourite in the showbiz circuit. Mainly because it’s so unlike other couture labels, and actually tries to prioritise the evolving relationship between its creations and its customers. We are quite bowled over by the draping and detailing of some of the pieces, like the georgette crepe drape jumpsuits, their embroidered gharara pants and the bandhani drapes, which are fresh and yet really classic. 

<em>An asymmetrical silk-georgette kurta with an embroidered overlayer jacket by Garo</em>
An asymmetrical silk-georgette kurta with an embroidered overlayer jacket by Garo

Garo’s embroidered bridal lehengas are also extremely popular, as are the kalidars. “We really try to create a balance in our pieces, by keeping our pieces light. Our aesthetic is something that people find appealing — so relaxed and wearable. We try to feature embroidery where it is needed, instead of exaggerating it. We do a lot of work with minimalism, which can make a statement while being really subtle,” says Sweta, whose label sees a huge number of millennial and GenZ customers too. 

<em>Ornate backless embroidered lehenga by Garo</em>
Ornate backless embroidered lehenga by Garo

Sweta tells us that young people today know exactly what they want, and the kind of statement that they want to make. “They are very sure about their style. If they are looking for a couture lehenga, they are confident about it, and that is what they’ll wear. So, we try to keep our price points relatively low and offer value for money. Our prices start from Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 and go up to Rs 1.5 lakh,” she adds. Garo’s vividly coloured and embroidered overlayer jackets and asymmetrical side-cowl bandhani kurtas are a rage and are all about chic, hassle-free clothing, which keeps comfort first — something you can’t find off-the-rack. 

<em>Patchwork drape ensemble featuring recycled metal detailing by Anubhuti Jain</em>
Patchwork drape ensemble featuring recycled metal detailing by Anubhuti Jain

Some of our favourite pieces are the ones that seamlessly bring together old-world techniques and the new-age need for low-key wearability. Garo’s georgette kalidars, for instance, which feature stunning tone-on-tone embroidery work, are often paired with retro pastel ghararas; or a deep red three-piece sequin-and-thread embroidered sharara set, which is a new take on occasion wear, and is in the Rs 30-40,000 price bracket. 

If you want to browse through some of Garo’s pieces, you can check out their flagship at P-72B, Sardar Shankar Road.

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