Lopamudra Dutta does not recall buying clothes as a child. Her Bengali grandmother stitched clothes for her and her cousins during Durga Puja. “None of us had the same clothes. It was always very different,” says Lopamudra, adding, “I saw my grandmothers in cotton saris, chiffons and Kanjeevarams. That shaped what I thought fashion was.”

Textiles from India, especially Bengal, have played a huge role in Lopamudra starting her new venture, AltaRasa, a multi-label boutique and website that features creations by South Asian and South East Asian designers.

After a long stint with a healthcare company, Lopamudra felt saturated and wanted to dive into what she has always been passionate about — textile and craftsmanship. “I felt that as a consumer there was a longing to discover Indian designs that are more than just occasion wear. When we think of fashion its Euro-centric or inspired by the US. A shift is happening now and that makes me happy,” she says.

Lopamudra dedicated three years to meet weavers and understand their process. “There were lots of brands that I discovered during my travels through Bali and Jakarta,” she says, adding that the process of curation came next. “I never asked designers to dilute their language. I curate with those whose philosophy aligns with the DNA of AltaRasa. Each designer carries their cultural and aesthetic identity.”

AltaRasa has upcoming designers and established ones like Maryalle, Lily Jean, and Stella Rissa from Indonesia who works with blends of wool and silk that can be worn in summers. There are eight labels from Sri Lanka including Sonali Dharmawardena. She also platforms Maus, Arc En Ciel, Anuk; Misha Lakhani, Sania Mastakiya, Hala and Reemami from the UAE.

The mix is eclectic with Indian designers bringing in heritage wear. There are collections by Payal Pratap, Ilk, Kiran Uttam Ghosh, Aakaro, Re ceremonial, Namza Ladakh, Weaver’s Studio, Anand Kabra, Surana Jewellers, Jaipur (fine jewellery), B Sirkar Johuree (heritage gold Bengal jewellery). There are representations from Murshidabad, Phulia (West Bengal), Benaras, Guwahati, and Assam in the form of hand-woven saris.

“AltaRasa has a hybrid format: the store in Delhi’s upscale Defence Colony will ensure that someone who walks in gets an immersive experience. While e-commerce takes us beyond geography,” she says.

“Customers want to wear something that reflect who they are,” says Lopamudra, adding that her brand is focussed on a clientele that is looking for quiet luxury, cultural legitimacy and long lasting wardrobe collectibles. “Repeating clothes is cool,” she states, driving home the point that skilfully crafted garments need to be preserved and worn often.

Prices start at ₹25,000.