Kolkata Festival: A fashion & lifestyle exhibition in support of craftspeople
Kolkata/IBNS: SHE, headed by Shagufta Hanaphie, recently organized a Fashion & Lifestyle exhibition called ‘Kolkata Festival’.
Organised at the ICCR premises, it was an attempt to boost the business of small and medium scale industries, home-preneurs and to raise funds for BestFriendz Society, the organisers said.
Visitors scouted through a wide range of clothes, fabric, accessories, bags and much more.
Understanding the need to give exposure to those whose livelihood has suffered during the pandemic, the organizers opened the platform to craftspeople from across the city.
Some of the leading exhibitors were Nash Boutique, The 999, Cell Active Colours, Shajiya Boutique, Rabbah Collections, Gracious Hub, Choice fashion, Kaalpi, Renesha Boutique, Clothing Palette, Fabrics of India, Iqbal's Kitchen, Bake Adore, Hiya Sarees, Farha's Collections, Juwi's Elegant Collection, Ms Pro, and Patiala House.
There were also homemade cookies on sale.
The two-day festival also organised various programmes.
On the inaugural day, the programme began with dance group Sankalp paying a tribute to Late Soumitra Chatterjee.
This was followed by an interactive session on Women Empowering Lives, pre and post lockdown, which highlighted how women have shown their multi-tasking abilities during the pandemic situation, managing their home and work place.
The event was inaugurated by Padamsree Purna Das Baul , Shagufta Hanaphie, Lion Lekha Sharma and Regional Director ICCR Gautam De.
Speakers included Chaitali Das, Chairperson, Rakshak Foundation; Gulshan Bano, makeup artist; Sujata Agarwal of Lions Club, and Sujoy Biswas, DirectorTechno India.
On the second day, there was a ‘Legends of Kolkata’ themed fancy dress where children between 5 and 13 years walked the ramp.
There was a Santoor performance by Ayush Lala, a student of Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya.
The programme was followed by the Installation ceremony of Payal Varma as BestFriendz Philanthropy Club’s new chairperson.
Post the installation program, there was a chat show and interactive session on ‘Abused Durga', to highlight the plight of women and the gross reality behind what they are facing at home during the pandemic, as well as ways to remedy them.
Speakers included cine and theatre actor Papia Adhikary, actor and classical dancer Anindita Roy, Professor Aammar Zaki, Advocate High Court, Supratim Roy, producer, film distributor and GSC International VC, Soma Lahiri, editor of Bartaman and Sukhi Grihokon, and Shagufta Hanaphie.
‘Kolkatar Gaanwala’ and others performed at the event.
Said Shagufta Hanaphie, Founder-Director of SHE, "The event was a success and I believe SHE promised what it delivered. But it was more of a story to narrate. I was able to deliver the rich culture of my city and explore it the right way."
The Lions Club elite 322B1, Rakshak Foundation and Asparagus Wedding, Friends FM, Business Economics, Tag Solutions, Al lazees, Iqbal's Kitchen & Bake Adore collaborated to make the event a success, according to the organisers.
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