Bloggers meet and baby steps in the fashion industry

CHENNAI: uirky brooches and cuffs, boho-inspired accessories, sequin embellished tops, funky footwear, and a plethora of dresses, home and lifestyle products and minimalistic gifts zap our senses when we enter Maaalgadi, Besant Nagar. As the store was preparing for its first-ever-festive trunk show – The KaMaalgadi Trunk Show, and setting the stage for a bloggers meet, we caught up with Shahin Ansari, co-founder Maalgadi.
Bloggers-meet being a common event in cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, the concept is new to Namma Chennai. “It’s something I have been thinking of for a while. The trunk show became an excuse to host it ahead of the event,” quips Shahin. Intended to give bloggers a platform to meet, develop a social circle and grow together as a community, the organizers invited some of the best bloggers in the city, which Shahin avers are only a handful.
“The blogging industry is not thriving here as compared to other cities. I wanted to promote the upcoming bloggers. Their work benefits a lot of businesses and they should be promoted. We contacted every blogger in the city and there are hardly any. Anyone can have a blog, but to have quality content and credibility is what we are looking at,” she shares.
Taking about the trunk show, a visibly excited Shahin says, “We’ve never done a festive trunk show earlier and this is the most Indian we’ve gone! We have never retailed Indian clothes and this is new and exciting.” But, what’s more special about the trunk show is the hashtag #Withacause.
Shedding light on the thought of giving back to society, she explains, “We have always found a way to give back to society…for something good and to feel good. So, we’ve joined hands with ‘Becoming I’ foundation which predominantly works with the education sector,” she shares.
Keep an eye open for a DIY workstation by the foundation where you can make your own art and craft pieces and take them back home. “We are expressing our support by donating part of our proceeds for their Chennai based project, LEAP. We believe that this will go a long way and make a difference,” she shares.
With designers like Shahil Kochhar, Nappa Dori and Fizzy Goblet in the house, the fashionistas in the city can look out for some quirky designs at the venue. “We have tried to bring in the most quirky designers in the country. Though most of them are busy because of the festive season, we have tried our best to bring designers who are popular and edgy,” she shares.
The city is still taking baby steps in catching up with the fashion industry, she opines. “We are getting there, but it will definitely take some time. Though there are people who are open to new styles, there are some who are still conservative or lazy. But, we’ll get there soon,” she adds.

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