Though born in Kolkata, my journey of life began in Delhi when I was seven years old. Since then, Delhi has been a city of my dreams, my achievements, struggles and success. The city’s zest for life has given me the passion for my work. I launched my exhibition Celebrating Vivaha in Delhi way back in 2003.
A lot of people then asked me why I chose Delhi as the launch pad of my exhibitions and my answer was simple—there is no place like Delhi when it comes to impulsive shopping. The women of Delhi love to dress, flaunt their style, make their own fashion statements and basically live life to the fullest. In terms of buying temperament, the city never looks back.
As the saying goes ‘Dilli Dilwalon Ki’, the people of Delhi have a large heart for everything. As a start-up, the support and love got from the people of Delhi is the reason for me being where I am today. I started off with just one show and the overwhelming response encouraged me to launch the exhibition in different cities across India. From a single exhibition, we now have three labels of exhibitions – Celebrating Vivaha, Martini Queens and Timeless Jewels and we do 18-20 exhibitions across the country.
Even when the country talks of economic slowdowns and compressed markets, I know Delhi will never slow down in its pace for living life. Once people set a standard for themselves, they ensure they maintain it for life. Delhi weddings have their own grandeur. Since my exhibition is a wedding exhibition, I know the kinds of sales that are generated therein. Weddings are one occasion where Delhiites love to flaunt and splurge, and splurging is not restricted to only clothing and jewellery.
From décor to gifts, venue and the food, Delhiites will only go for the best. Hence, Delhi is the best place to have your business base. People of Delhi don’t think twice before shelling out the moolah. Though I have been doing the exhibitions for over 14 years now, I have never felt a stage of stagnancy. Each time, the response to the exhibition is as overwhelming as it was when we began.
The visitor footfall is only increasing with time as today people here prefer shopping at an exhibition since it gives them all the variety under one roof and they don’t have to go to a particular shop. In fact, many a times we have heard our retailer friends joke—your exhibition is round the corner so the sales in our shops have stalled as the customers are saying they will have a look at the exhibition first. The craze to get first look at any fashion that has come up is maximum in Delhi and the first day of our exhibition is packed with buyers who do not want to miss out on anything. Hence for me, Delhi is the city of my dreams.