One-click destination

Sumana Roy checks out www.assamsilkshopping.com for some last-minute splurging on exotic mekhela sadors

Durga Puja is just days away and you are still clueless about where to get that mekhela sador, saree or matching jewellery. Shops are too crowded or time is not on your side.

Well, put you worries at rest. Just visit www.assamsilkshopping.com and order your festive fineries.

This e-commerce portal is the brainchild of Daisy Rani Nath, who began the venture during her maternity leave in 2012 and then gave up her job as a software engineer in Wipro to concentrate on being a full-time entrepreneur.

“I stared it as a hobby during my pregnancy. I left my job in this year in March to pursue this dream,” said the 31-year-old.

The website started with silk mekhela sadors and sarees, as the name suggests, but later introduced traditional Assamese jewellery and handicraft. “Silk is very expensive and there is a demand for cotton products, mostly in India,” she said.

The products are authentic Assamese mekhela sadors, sarees, kurtas and skirts, which Daisy gets from Sualkuchi in Assam and then delivers to customers who have
ordered online. Cotton products start from Rs 1,500 while silk mekhela and sarees range between Rs 4,000 and Rs 45,000.

Models showcase different products on the portal

“Initially, I would take the orders and then get the product from Assam to be shipped to the customer. Now, customers want them within a span of three to four days. So, I have
storehouses from where the products are sent,” she said.

Based in Bangalore, Assam Silk Shopping has a regional office in Guwahati. Apart from the dedicated website where people can place their orders, Daisy has a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a blog, a Youtube link and a Whatsapp number to market her products.

“The website is most popular and I get most of the orders from India as well abroad through it. It gets heavy traffic before festivals when women want to dress up in ethnic wear,” she said.

Homemaker Purbi Dey from Calcutta and scientist Paramita Banerjee Sawant from Mumbai are happy customers. “I came across the website while browsing the Internet. I got my sarees and mekhelas within two-and-a-half days. The products are very good,” said Purbi.

“I had a problem when I ordered the first time. The package went missing but Daisy was very professional. She offered a replacement and I got it delivered to my place without a glitch. I was happy with their service,” Paramita said. While Singapore-based entrepreneur Gayatri Giri has become a regular shopper on Assam Silk Shopping, singer Gitika Saikia who lives in the UK, is all praise for the customised mekhela sador that she got from the website.

“I was always interested in handloom products and this site is a boon. I am very happy with the products and service,” said Gayatri.

“I wanted something simple to wear on my daughter’s wedding. Daisy was really helpful and I was very impressed with the way she handled my mekhela sador order. I will definitely place more orders on the website,” said Gitika.

The website helped IT professional Bishal Neogi buy a Puja gift for his wife. “I wanted to present my wife a mekhela sador for Durga Puja. I came across the website while browsing,” said Neogi.

So this Puja, through rain or shine, sit back and enjoy shopping on www.assamsilkshopping.com without stepping out of the comfort of your home.

Fashion for the festival!

A bridal set with really heaving weaving. It has been styled with subtle pearl and kundan work. Too much of bling, tikki and sequence work and shiny embellishments are not required on an already rich texture. It takes away the beauty of the weave

This Durga Puja, it’s all about re-inventing traditional cuts, silhouettes and styles.And with the brand new collection of Gallery 2000, fashion designer Payal Chadha is bringing out the modern appeal and functionality while keeping the heart of culture secure.

Payal calls it the Festive Autumn and Winter Collection, blending different silks like mulberry, muga and eri to create new textures of Assam silk. Metallic shine is fused with the craft of weaving tribal and ancient motifs and designs to give it an out-of the-box affect. Rather than having traditional Assamese motifs and tribal motifs spread in old scattered designs, new patterns are woven in. Whether it’s your wedding, or one of those fun festive evenings or your best friend’s wedding, t2 will tell you how to dress your best! A visit to Gallery 2000 in Guwahati showed t2 the aces Payal has up her sleeve. Minakari is in, in a big way.

Her latest collection is all about it. Kundan and zardozi work have taken a back seat this season. However, the hues need to be picked up carefully according to her, as it’s easy to go the wrong way. The colour combination has to be in sync rather than using too much of contrast. For the motifs, the traditional xingkhap is used in big sizes with minakari work and then laid down in peculiar patterns with different colors. The colour palette is a mix of cheerful vibrant hues like rani pinks, tangerine, peacock blues and green, which are perfect for this festive season. Of course, skipping gold won’t be a bright idea, as the silhouette will become subtle for this Durga Puja.