Wednesday, August 24, 2011

House of Alternative Apparel's Store Launch, Lazimpat

The HAA has currently three labels—Eco Essentials, Just T’s and Aira. While Just T’s is a clothing line for men comprising 16 variants of T-shirts, Aira is an exclusive women’s outfit line.

According to Subba, Just T’s is available in casual, funky, funny, polo and print designs. There are 30 variants of summer dresses, casual T-shirts and evening wear under the Aira line-up.


 The HAA’s store is spread over 500 sq ft and will feature an extensive line-up of Western clothes for men and women. What makes the HAA’s products special is that they are made of natural and organic fabrics and are designed by Nepali fashion designers.


House of Alternative Apparel's Store Launch, Lazimpat
  House of Alternative Apparel's Store Launch, Lazimpat

To be different one doesn’t need to wear international brands. This is the message of the House of Alternative Apparel (HAA). The HAA is opening its first retail store at Uttar Dhoka, Lazimpat on Saturday where it will feature its three labels.

“The idea behind the HAA is to promote domestic outfits by using domestic materials and manpower,” said former Miss Nepal Malvika Subba, who is a co-founder and creative director of HAA. The HAA was established in 2010 by Subba and two partners with the Eco Essential label. After selling its products to a few retail stores in Kathmandu, the HAA has decided to open its own retail store. The acceptance of HAA products by customers prompted Subba and her team to come up with their own store.

 Subba has roped in leading Nepali fashion designer Tenzing Tseten Bhutia to design dresses for the Aira label. “We have also provided a platform to a number of students who are currently studying fashion designing at various colleges,” said Subba. According to her, there are numerous fashion stores in town, but they lack diverse products. Hence, the HAA aims to address this with innovative and creative products at nominal prices. Prices of the HAA’s T-shirts start at Rs 750, casual women’s wear costs around Rs 1,500 and evening wear are priced at Rs 2,000 and above. As for Eco Essentials, prices start at Rs 1,000.