Fashion Trunk Shows, Mumbai-Style
Mumbai women set up fashion events ahead of the Hindu holiday Diwali.
MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2007 — -- "I'll show you the white ones," says designer Shobha Mohatta, guiding a customer to the clothing rack behind her.
"Oh, I looooove it," the woman says, delighted with the salwar kurtas that Mohatta has presented to her.
It's 1 p.m. on a Thursday, and about 10 other women quietly admired the rows of traditional Indian clothing that lined a sun-filled living room.
For one day only, the apartment belonging to Mohatta's business partner, Priya Kothari -- their label is Priya & Shobha -- has been converted into a fashion showroom. A pink sari hangs in front of the window, blocking a view of the Arabian Sea and swaying palm trees. An extra bedroom off the foyer serves as a fitting room. Waiters in black jackets circulate, offering "mocktails" and espressos.
This is a trunk show, Mumbai-style, where Mumbai's society women shop, socialize and support their friends' design careers.
For two months leading up to the Hindu holiday Diwali (this year on Nov. 9 and 10), these fashion shows (where no one actually models the clothing) occur almost daily to allow women enough time to purchase outfits for the holiday season. There are about 100 shows similar to this one, which are held after the monsoons end in September.
"Very rarely am I going to walk out without buying something," said Meeta Jain, 47, a friend of the designers who attended a private showing the previous day to ensure she had first choice of the clothing. "You can buy very unique and creative stuff that is not available at a shop. Over the years I have built a collection from events like these."
When the apartment opened for business at 11 a.m., about 35 women arrived to buy the brightly colored silk and cotton saris, salwar kurtas (matching sets of long shirts and pants) and tunics. Within an hour, most of the shopping was completed. Women may spend four times more at these shows than they would in a mid-range priced store, but they also have the chance to buy something unique and handmade. Prices for salwar kurtas range from $50 to $400, saris from $250 to $750, while tunics are about $100.
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