An ode to the loom and the city that inspires it

On a balmy February evening, the premises of the Alka Jalan Foundation at Daga Nikunj transformed into a celebration of fabric, flavour and fellowship as Byloom marked a milestone of being in the city for 15 years, with Loominous: An Ode to Kolkata, celebrating the loom that weaves the fabric made specially for Byloom. Founded by Bappaditya Biswas and Malavika Banerjee, Byloom has long been synonymous with handwoven textiles that reinterpret tradition for the contemporary woman. The evening opened with an intimate conversation tracing the brand’s journey – from its early days of reviving indigenous weaves to becoming a label that urban women increasingly turn to for timeless yet functional design.Discussions turned towards reminiscing moments of quiet triumph, involving famous people and popular venues. For Bappaditya, textiles are not merely garments but living archives. “We have tried to create a brand that weaves the needs of women today into time-honoured textile practices,” he said, speaking of Byloom’s commitment to preserving craft while responding to evolving lifestyles. His deep love for fabric – the fall of a weave, the quiet luxury of handspun cotton, the poetry in texture – has shaped the brand’s aesthetic vocabulary. Malavika articulated the philosophy behind the evening’s unique concept. “We wanted Byloom to celebrate two aspects of Kolkata – the gloriously eclectic food of the city. Other cities claim authenticity, we claim that as well as a Kolkata flavour. The second was to showcase the micro-communities that give this city its inclusive and all-embracing vibe,” she noted.And so, instead of professional models, the ramp belonged to some of Kolkata’s culinary stars as well as members from a variety of communities. People from the city’s vibrant food fraternity swapped their chef coats for drapes and silhouettes in handwoven textiles, embodying the cross-pollination that defines Kolkata. Among them were Chef Shaun Kenworthy, Auroni Mookherjee, Abhinandan Kundu, Manzilat Khan, Tanvi Ghai, and many other well-known faces from the hospitality circuit. But it was Doma Wang Kolkata’s much-loved “Momo queen” – who brought an unmistakable spark to the evening. With her infectious smile and signature swagger, Wang turned her ramp debut into a moment of pure joy. “It was my first time walking on the ramp and I absolutely had a blast,” Wang said with her characteristic candor. “Loved the camaraderie among the people from the industry and the chance to get out of our chef coats and into the beautiful weaves from Byloom.” The evening concluded with a quintessential Kolkata-style jolkhabar, featuring koraishutir kochuri, aloor dom as well as momo, reinforcing the theme that food and fabric are twin pillars of the city’s multi-cultural identity. “Loominous was a celebration of people from different communities – from Anglo Indians, to Parsees, to foreigners – the intent of the show was to connect them together into the cultural melting pot that this city is. I think it worked very well - the singer perfectly timed everything and made it feel truly like a Kolkata-worthy show,” said fashion director Pinky Kenworthy.