Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Casting a six-yard spell
|
With the festive season coming up Samyakk is all set to dazzle with scintillating saris and fabrics
|
PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.
AMAZING ALLURE Saris are presented in stunning avatars for every occasion
Samyakk, which means, "balance in every way", now stands tall on Richmond Road, bang opposite the Lifestyle Store. This three-storied building beckons you with its tall glass walls and stylish interiors. Samyakk offers a vast collection of the traditional six-yard wonder.
Started by Mithalal Makana and his sons Gyanender K.M. and Kamlesh Kumar K.M., this store, just three months old, is already doing roaring business. Samyakk offers an exclusive range of saris, dress materials and ghagra cholis in crepe, georgettes and silk cottons that come in designs created by in-house designers. There are also traditional clothes for those with a conventional mindset.
Visual feast
The store is a feast for women immensely influenced by the fashion scene in saas-bahu serials aired on the television. The first floor offers an infinite choice of party-wear saris with prices starting at Rs. 1,800. The options vis-à-vis colours, textures and price are guaranteed to confound the most seasoned shopper. Thereare saris with light embroidery as well innovative ones that marry traditional Kancheevaram silks with contemporary prints and designs.
On the second floor, the range is for those with deeper pockets and who have bigger functions to attend. Here is where one sees the influence of the fashion from television. There is heavy embroidery on crepe. Traditional weaves find expression on the luxurious fabrics. From zardozi, kanta, dhapka (a Lucknowi style where the zardozi is first stuck on the fabric and then the thread work is done), French knots (again a Lucknowi style where the silk treads are knotted and then the designs are created using these knots on the sari material), aari work, pashmina embroidery, gota work (a traditional Rajasthani design where yellow material and gold threads form the base more like our appliqué work) to the famous kasuti from Hubli, the embellishments lift the outfits to a whole new level.
The price for Benarasi silk starts at Rs. 3,500 while new designs in kora silks with jute work start at Rs. 4,500. The weight of the sari and the amount of work is directly proportional to the price. A Rs. 25,000 crepe or georgette sari can weigh anywhere between five to six kilos (!) just because of the intricate handwork. "These saris are all to be dry-cleaned and have to be used very carefully," says Kamalesh. The last floor is dedicated to dress materials and ghagra cholis. These come in the range of Rs. 800 to Rs. 2 lakh.
About the size and location of the store, Gyanender says: "We already had a 300-sq. ft. sari shop in Chickpet under the name Mahaveer Collection. Then our customers demanded that we find a place with greater accessibility. We did not choose any malls, as we wanted our individual identity. Having been in the fabric industry for the last 25 years, we started this store on an impulse. And with ample parking space, the drive in accessibility issue has also been addressed." The store's products and the price range cater to upmarket consumers. The saris sold here appeal mainly to a north Indian sensibility. "But even south Indians shop here when they are bored with conventional designs and material," observes Kamlesh. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Samyakk can be contacted on 41113330.
SHILPA SEBASTIAN R.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
