PILITAXI, the travelling pop-up exhibition of homegrown Indian brands, returns to Hyderabad this weekend with more than 25 labels across fashion, jewellery and lifestyle. The two-day showcase will be held at CCT Spaces, Banjara Hills, with options spanning travel, wedding and festive dressing.

Founded by Bijaya Dutta, Pilitaxi curates brands for their craft, creativity and individuality, with a mix that extends beyond womenswear. “We have menswear, kidswear, men’s footwear and jewellery, bringing together contemporary design with traditional Indian craftsmanship,” she says. For menswear, Brahmha Karma brings hand-block-printed shirts and a festive edit, Tupa presents its printed shirts, while Origin & Objects showcases menswear made with handwoven fabrics from Bengal. Bijaya says the Hyderabad edition reflects the diversity of the labels the platform works with.

The jewellery selection includes Kalon Art, which approaches the form through a modern, sculptural lens, creating contemporary gold and structural pieces rooted in Indian craftsmanship. Diti Mistry takes a more expressive approach to upcycled jewellery, transforming discarded materials into distinctive pieces while drawing on motifs and elements that reflect the diversity of Indian culture.

Woolknitters India is a social enterprise rooted in the Himalayas that works with rural artisan communities to preserve traditional crafts and handmade skills. Its collection spans hand-spun wool, knitting, crochet and weaving, using local materials and techniques.

Clothing brands Kapardara, Bahi and Chafa will also showcase their collections in Hyderabad for the first time.

Now six years old, Pilitaxi was founded in 2020, although the idea had been taking shape for almost five years. Bijaya describes it as “a platform for artisanal-based brands that helps us stay connected with our roots and culture.”

The idea grew from her years of working with designers, homegrown labels and small creative businesses. With a background in brand building, marketing, fashion and visual storytelling, she had also run a creative and marketing agency in Kolkata, working across brand strategy, campaigns, branding and photography.

While working with independent designers and creative entrepreneurs, Bijaya noticed a recurring gap: there was plenty of talent, strong ideas and beautiful craftsmanship, but little access to the right audience. It prompted her to rethink her line of work and build a platform that could bridge that gap.

How did she turn a Kolkata pop-up into a platform with a national identity? Bijaya’s background in literature, mass communication, brand building, marketing and fashion photography gave her a close view of the challenges faced by independent labels: strong ideas and craftsmanship, but limited access to the right audience. “I started young, but I always had a strong instinct for what I wanted to create. Much of what I learnt came from observing, researching and understanding the gaps brands faced — in visibility, positioning, reaching the right audience and presenting their work.”

As a founder, she was clear about one thing: she “didn’t want to replicate.”

The first PILITAXI exhibition in Kolkata was deliberately small, bringing together around 12 women-led brands, artists and creative entrepreneurs, many of whom she had previously worked with. For some, it was their first exhibition; a few were just starting out. Suta was among the first participants.

“That first edition set the tone for what PILITAXI would become — a space built around discovery, community, and giving independent creators the confidence and visibility to take their work further,” says Bijaya. “Curation is at the heart of what we do. We look beyond the product — originality, craftsmanship, material choices, production practices, brand identity, storytelling and the intent behind the work all matter.”

What is the selection process?

Bijaya says the selection team brings different perspectives and expertise, while we research each brand, its founder and journey. “We look for thoughtful design, handmade processes, traditional craft, responsible production and innovative approaches. Brands can also apply, and we assess them against the same principles before independently researching and handpicking the final selection,” she says, adding, “for us, curation is not about filling a space. It is about creating a collection that feels distinctive, considered and worth discovering.”

PILITAXI, the travelling pop-up exhibition is on at CCT Spaces, Banjara Hills, MLA Colony, till Sept 12, 11 am onwards.