Weavers Trunk – A Storehouse of Six-Yard Beauties
We loved every piece at Weavers Trunk as if they were painstakingly chosen to keep you in mind. Be it a wedding, Durga Puja or Diwali, parties or a ladies meet, a sari from Weavers Trunk is a must have.
Weavers Trunk is a repository of some of the most desirable Banarasi, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Matka, Coimbatore sarees with a hint of modern designs.
If you have a soft corner for such six-yard beauties just like we do, we suggest you set a date with Weavers Trunk that will pamper you with some of the most exquisite saris that are directly sourced from the Indian weavers and are waiting to adorn the modern woman of today.
The Lifestyle Portal caught up with the lovely Subhalakshmi Chakravarty, a 52-year-old Mumbai-based entrepreneur who is a graduate from Kolkata University and has completed a basic course in photography from FX School in Mumbai.
She shares her story of how her childhood memories and her love for fabrics have shaped the entrepreneur in her and about her very successful venture – Weavers Trunk that she launched on 27th February 2014.
For those in Mumbai and would like to see her collection in person can drop by at the Four Season’s Hotel in Worli where Subhalakshmi is taking part in an exclusive exhibition conducted by Marriage Mantra who are presenting Sajja in association with Femina on 19th September. You can find her at the Weavers Trunk counter at Stall No. 40.
How did it all begin? 
“My inspiration is my father, my idol. He was a textile businessman who owned 164 power looms that manufactured sarees. Growing up around him was an institution of learning in itself, where I realised that I too had a passion for fabrics. Life took me through different roads but I have always held on to that desire of starting my own textile related business. This year, the stars seem to have aligned and I plunged into the journey of entrepreneurship through Weavers Trunk,” smiles Subhalakshmi.
Branding
For Subhalakshmi Weavers Trunk is an expression of her childhood dream and her sister suggested the name, which blended well with her thoughts.
She adds, “The term ‘Weavers’ is reminiscent of the power looms in West Bengal that I grew up around and ‘Trunk’ symbolises my creativity through which I wish to bring exclusive weaved designs to the rest of India. People love the idea of being able to wear traditional handlooms and having access to the talent of our weavers; at the same time, the designs are mine, which brings an element of uniqueness.”
Initial investments
Subhalakshmi ‘s initial investment was mostly dedicated to travelling across various parts of India, meeting weavers and studying their craft.
Then came the part of collaborating with them that helped her express her ideas through their hands.
“This kind of business needs holding a decent amount of inventory, but I started small and cautious. I tested the market and the response came quickly enough for me to buy more stock. There is clearly an interest and audience in the kind of sarees I am selling,” mentions Subhalakshmi.
Challenges faced
One of the main challenges is marketing the concept and creating brand awareness within a tight budget. Subhalakshmi takes care to not overspend; yet she wants to be able to stand out in a competitive environment that she can achieve through planning, research and low-cost innovative marketing ideas.
She says, “I find social media, especially “Facebook” an important tool. Apart from this, there are exhibitions, ladies groups and word of mouth publicity that prove beneficial for Weavers Trunk.”
Memorable moments
When we asked her about one of her most precious moments at Weavers Trunk, an ecstatic Subhalakshmi replied, “When I held the very first saree designed by me, it was a proud moment. 
Even more so, when someone bought it! It was reassuring and made me believe that this venture might actually work. Every sale is an encouragement and motivates me to further bring out the best in me.”
Future plans
Before signing off Subhalakshmi shares with us what she has in mind for the future for Weavers Trunk,
“My aim is to reach a wider audience and customer base, from all ages and all walks of life. So far, I have connected with many women in India and Singapore, but hopefully, I can spread my wings further. My customers can continue to expect innovative, beautiful and elegant designs coming their way.”
Another challenge is maintaining a superior quality but offers reasonable prices to her customers. Quality often comes with a higher price tag, and as Subhalakshmi puts it, she is trying to reverse that trend.
What makes Weavers Trunk so unique?
Weavers Trunk is all about unique and exclusive sarees sourced directly from the weavers of India.
The sarees have her creative designs without compromising the traditional craft of the weavers. The sarees range from as low as Rs. 1,200 to higher prices for more ornate and heavy sarees.
Getting in touch:
You can get in touch with Weavers Trunk through:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Weavers-Trunk/368151269992139
Website – http://www.weaverstrunk.com/
Email : weaverstrunk@gmail.com
Call/ Whatsapp /Msg:+91 9820333872
Collaborate with us:
Write to us at tanya@tanyamunshi.com if you’d like to get featured or collaborate with us at The Lifestyle Portal. 
Beautiful collection! Feel like buying them all.