I got a call from a close friend of mine who hails from Calcutta, minutes after discovering the latest collection from The Burlap People. While flitting between raging about the government killing the vibrant nighttime tea culture in Kochi to discussing the latest Japanese crime novel to delve into, I mentioned the lead I was working on. As a homegrown lifestyle writer, The Burlap People is a brand that I’d known for years, but the way she recognized it with the same warmth she does her Chingri Macher Malaikari made me realize just how closely entwined the brand is with Calcutta as a place.
That connection becomes even more apparent with their latest launch: Stripes & Calcutta — A Love Story Stitched in Time. This collection pays homage to a seemingly unassuming yet culturally rich object — the baajar bag. According to the brand, it's "a fixture in every Bengali household. This market bag is more than just a means of carrying produce. It is a quiet witness to morning errands, languid tram rides, and spirited adda sessions.”
The Burlap People has reimagined this everyday staple with a sense of nostalgic reverence and sustainability, translating its bold striped pattern onto biodegradable jute, instead of the usual synthetic mesh. The result is a collection that carries the weight of memory and heritage, but looks perfectly at home in the modern wardrobe.
The bag in the Stripes & Calcutta Collection is handcrafted and hand-screen printed in collaboration with one of India’s oldest screen-printing units - an artisanal approach that defies the mass production of digital printing. The choice of hues mirror the city of Calcutta itself - vibrant, layered, deeply rooted in history, but accepting of progress and innovation. The striped pattern goes beyond being a style choice as well; they are a recognisable pattern forming a link between generations of people who have long relied on these bags for their everyday needs.
Sustainability has always been at the heart of The Burlap People, and this collection is no different. The choice to use jute - a material synonymous with Bengal’s own industrial past - reinforces the brand’s commitment to slow living and craftsmanship. For those familiar with the brand’s journey, this collection would seem like a full-circle moment. Founded by Samriddh Burman, the brand has always been a labour of love, a merging of old-world materials and new-age consciousness. Over the years, it has carved out a niche that is both deeply personal and refreshingly universal. With Stripes & Calcutta, The Burlap People once again proves that fashion, at its best, can be a medium for storytelling. .
And for those of us who have memories of Calcutta - be it through friendships, food, or fleeting visits - the collection is a reminder of a city that continues to linger, long after you’ve left.
Follow The Burlap People here.
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