An Amishi creation

Luxury is calling Calcutta. And it is “cherry picked”. A high-end brand bandwagon led by Salvatore Ferragamo (mostly accessories) and Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla will be making a stop in town later this month as Cherry Orchard, a home-grown fashion and lifestyle event, unveils its first edition.

“We believe that Calcutta is ready for luxury. Many lifestyle shows have been thrust on us in the past, which have concentrated on quantity rather than quality. There is hardly a distinction between better, best and just regular. That’s where Cherry Orchard enters, to fill the gap,” says Shradha Saraf, the brain behind the brand.

The two-day extravaganza has lots lined up and it all begins at 3pm on August 30 with an arty bang. Cherry Orchard has partnered with Emami Chisel Art, an auction house for modern and contemporary art. Participating artists include greats like (late) Bikash Bhattacharya, Ganesh Pyne, Paritosh Sen, Kartick Chandra Pyne, Satish Gujral, Somnath Hore and K.G. Subramaniam.

The Hyatt Regency banquets will then undergo a mini makeover with pretty props along the way as models present a “fashion walk”. Their idea is to present a lifelike representation of the season’s biggest style trends. The organisers promise that the event will be glitzy enough to make the fashion pages of any glossy come alive. “We wanted it to be interactive and real and that’s why we have decided to ditch the ramp,” explains Shradha. All this complemented by a wine and cheese affair.

Sunset calls for a change of drink and that’s when Pinky Vodka figures. This pretty pink Vodka by UB Group (only for the gals!) will be unveiled and another quick fashion walk later, the real shopping begins with a midnight bazaar.

Shane & Falguni Peacock, Suneet Verma, Minakshi Dadoo, Cherie D, Shradha Saraf, Amaya, Soumitra Mondal, Vivek Kumar, Ravage, Neema Lath, Sharmila Bajoria and fashion stores like Vizyon and Muse will spoil you for choice. Also catch jewellery by Mangatrai Jewels, Royal Orchid Jewellery and Umrao Jewels and accessories by Amishi, J Sqaure and Curio Cottage.

For home and lifestyle there are designs by Krsna Mehta for Zeba, Anupama Jalan, L’ Vista, Leena Kejriwal and Fuzion Glass.

Cherry Orchard also plans to travel to Mumbai and Delhi. “It will be held annually in Calcutta and periodically in other cities,” signs off Shilpi Goenka, Shradha’s partner at Cherry Orchard.