Trunk call

Be it an heirloom,a bridal accessory,a jewellery box or even a decor piece,the trunk once a storage item has now got a makeover.

WHEN Mumbai-based management professional Krupa Thakkar and her family embarked on a shopping spree to put together trousseaus for her brothers wedding this April,one of the first places she visited was the Peddar Road store Jade,headed by designers Monica Shah and Karishma Swali. We zeroed in on their collection of lehengas,gowns and suits for my family,including my sister-in-law, says the 23-year-old. Those apart,she picked up a brown-hued trunk as part of the latters bridal trousseau. Once we had decided on the clothing,storing these elaborate ensembles particularly the bridal lehenga posed a challenge. So it made sense for us to get a trunk. Plus,its vintage look only added to its charm, she says.

Thakkar speaks for a generation that attaches a lot of importance to functionality and is,at the same time,fast succumbing to the lure of the vintage. With vintage being a buzzword,old is no longer relegated to the back of the wardrobe. Earlier,trunks were most commonly used for extended periods away from home,such as for boarding school or long trips abroad. But today,it has been rediscovered,and has also been given a contemporary twist by several designers,including Shah,Swali and senior designer Arjun Khanna. Trunks are about heritage and nostalgia,which only add to their appeal as collectibles. What I have done is offer a modern spin without tampering with their essence. For instance,I have covered trunks with collages of denim swatches,and newspaper and comic book prints, says Khanna. He has also used colours such as ochre,burgundy and cobalt blue to lend them a funky feel.

Its not just the decor driven,heavy trunks that are being reinvented; Toteteca has adapted trunks for a younger audience,too. The online accessories label,that specialises in bags,totes and clutches,reaches out to more people with colourful jewellery box interpretations of the trunk. These boxes are in demand as they make for smart fashion statements. The look is decidedly western and these functional carry cases work better in an everyday setting, says Kushal Chudiwala,who heads Toteteca.

Designers Shah and Swali believe that trunks are the ultimate travel and storage accessory. Noting that their main target audience consists of brides-to-be,Shah explains that their line of vintage-era trunks available in several shades includes two large lehenga suitcases,one slimmer saree case,one vanity case for make-up and a jewellery case. Designed specifically for bridal trousseau packing,these trunks preserve those memories and keep the bridal ensemble in good shape by protecting it from wear and tear, says Swali.

Brands such as Louis Vuitton and Trunks Company Jaipur cater to a segment that looks at trunks as a status symbol. Livio Delesgues,chief designer at the latter company,asserts that trunks are known to be premium accoutrements of the elite (including royalty) for their travel and sporting expeditions. Today,we have rekindled the legacy of trunks for the contemporary world. Our trunks treasure all kinds of possessions from watches,shoes and jewellery to wines and cigars, he says.

Customisation has also fed the trunks popularity a monogrammed trunk holds more appeal than an ordinary one. Luxury brand Louis Vuitton,for one,is famous for its personalisation services. Clients can pick a maximum of three initials to be painted on the trunk available in eight font sizes,accompanied by stripes in a rich palette of colours. Chudiwala points out that the miniature monogrammed trunk cases are the most popular item at Toteteca,while Swali says that brides often ask for trunks tailored to suit their needs. Additionally,these trunks have personalised tags,which bear the name,initials or a special message on the tag, she says.

vidya.prabhu@expressindia.com

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Trunk call

Be it an heirloom,a bridal accessory,a jewellery box or even a decor piece,the trunk  once a storage item  has now got a makeover.

Be it an heirloom,a bridal accessory,a jewellery box or even a decor piece,the trunk once a storage item has now got a makeover.