If you thought Diwali was all about bling and sparkle, Parampara Pret, a pre-Diwali exhibition showcasing apparels, accessories and lifestyle products would have come as a surprise. Organised by the Rotary Club of Calcutta Chowrenghee in association with The Telegraph, the two-day exhibition was held at Taj Bengal and opened at noon on Tuesday.

Stoles, shoes, tunics, saris, cushion covers and coasters formed just a small part of the diverse line-up in 77 stalls from across the country and even Bangladesh. The banquet hall was packed even before designer duo Dev and Nil kick-started the shopping extravaganza.

And the crowd was interested in far more than window shopping. Srivant More of Kaji, whose stall stocked quirky home accessories and wacky bags, had clocked at least 30 sales within half an hour of opening. His offering stood out with its retro and pop art touches. From cute bags with Archie comics strip prints and a trinket box embossed with yesteryear pictures of Madhubala, Kaji’s creations were a hit. Another stall by Vandita and Tanushree had Bollywood inspired home furnishing items. Their coasters with iconic movie lines like “Kitne aadmi the” and “Mogambo khush hua”, priced at Rs 300 for a set of six, were a steal!

Then there was Mumbai-based Nyassa, a stall one could sniff out from the other end of the hall, that stocked natural handmade bath products and cosmetics. Another cool collection came from a brand called Tequila Shots, with its bags in canvas, plex and patchwork on raw silk with sepia prints of yesteryear Calcutta. They also stocked festive tunics with cubist prints and more conventional salwar kameezes.

Dev and Nil, too, liked what they saw, sifting through coasters and metal candle-stands. “We saw some really cool things. From digitally printed coasters to printed pashminas. And such a huge turnout! We’re impressed!” they smiled.

Malini Banerjee