Meet Sriparna Ray at By Hand From The Heart Makers Market August Edit in Chennai. Today on the blog the founder and designer of Bhomra Design Co., Kolkota shares with us in details about her label and the showcase. Read on…
Tell us a bit about yourself
After a seven year-long corporate stint as a communication specialist and writer, I felt the need to move closer to my heart. As an answer, I was blessed with a beautiful and life-changing opportunity with an NGO in Mumbai. I was surrounded by children, art and possibilities. Possibilities of a better world and life for them. Looking back, it was these years that shaped the way for what was to come. A personal crisis took me back to my hometown, Kolkata, after ten years, where a new chapter started and Bhomra took flight. I believe in staying true to the fabric. Simple designs and silhouettes ensure that the hero of my outfits is always the weave.
Why is making so important to you?
Making is giving birth to an idea, a thought, an ideology. It is about breathing life into your dreams and that of so many others who contribute to it. It is a chance to share your/collective views and aesthetics with the world. It is an opportunity to present unearthed talent to many more like-minded people. It is a means of providing opportunities to lesser known artisans who find a way to continue doing what they love. It is the beginning of a process of sharing love, love that starts with the weaver and his family for their craft, the source of their creativity lies in nature and all around us, the passion that trickles into the designer and then the wearers, who then turn into believers and propagators of that very thought. It is in making that we truly set flight to building things that never were. It is in making that we continue to nurture the circle of life and love.
How did you begin Bhomra and how has it evolved over the years?
The idea for Bhomra—the adventurous little bumbling bee—was born from my desire to celebrate Taant, Tangails and Dhakais by bringing their unassuming elegance, lightness and simplicity back into our everyday lives, while also introducing these fine hand weaves to others with appreciation for such artistry. Bhomra brings taant and other Bangla weaves found in the sari form in to our everyday wardrobes in the form of modern, stylish, comfortable and affordable clothing; and in to our homes in the form of unique accessories and décor. Through these cotton creations I wished to pay tribute to the weaving families blessed with such craftsmanship, and I looked forward to sharing stories and memories of my childhood with you.
Since the time we began in September 2017, it has been all about understanding our ever-expanding audience, the fabrics and the way they lend themselves to different designs and so much more. It is a journey that is nuanced with several learnings. This will help us evolve in the years to come.
What is your personal favorite pick from your Bhomra right now? And why?
I have many, starting with the Uttam-Suchitras. But perhaps the Alta and Kolke win by a very thin margin. These fabrics and colours are quintessentially Bengal. These traditional Tangail and Taant weaves are age-old, yet lend themselves so beautifully to the modern-day dress forms. It was a chance for us to revive and preserve a 45-year-old sari in the current avatar and it acted as a constant and beautiful reminder of why I started Bhomra in the first place, to want to hold onto our traditions and not allow them to fade into oblivion.
What is a typical working day, like.
My days are free-flowing. I sometimes find comfort in working out of my home studio, and other times from my workshop space. It’s peppered with phone calls, orders, enquiries, packaging, writing out addresses, sitting with my Masterji, getting a sound hearing from my mother, who oversees accounts, for not giving adequate attention to logistical protocol, sitting with my sketchpad and fabrics, writing out content for social media, figuring out shoots, feeling a little lost sometimes, and other times filled with gratitude, and perhaps a million other emotions. Such is the story of a start-up. And it’s an exciting, challenging but beautiful story indeed. It takes the shape that you choose to give it.
What are your displaying at the By Hand, From The Heart.
Indo-western outfits and accessories from the –
– Uttam-Suchitra Collection
– Bosonto Collection
– Alta and Kolke Collection
– Ramdhonu Collection and more
Meet the Maker @
By Hand From The Heart Makers Market 24th Edition
Friday – Saturday
24th – 25th August, 2018
10:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m
Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park, (old Adyar Gate Hotel)
132, T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018, India.
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By Hand from the Heart 