A spontaneous creative collaboration during a trip to The Temi Bungalow in Sikkim turned into a memorable fashion lookbook celebrating the region’s tea heritage, traditional attire, and Himalayan beauty on the occasion of International Tea Day.
The shoot, which was never part of the original travel plans, came together unexpectedly during a stop in Siliguri while travelling from Bagdogra to Sikkim. During a visit to a boutique at City Centre mall, the team met designer Riyan Ghising, founder of Amor by Ree, a label known for customised traditional Nepali ethnic costumes.
Encouraged by the idea of photographing local-inspired fashion at Temi, the designer immediately packed three outfits for the team without any formal wardrobe planning, setting the stage for an entirely unplanned creative project.
The shoot eventually found its muse in Sauraseni Maitra, who happened to be staying at The Temi Bungalow along with a group of actors from Kolkata during a mountain retreat. Despite the last-minute proposal, Maitra agreed to participate in the photoshoot, while makeup artist Priyancka A Mitra joined the project on short notice from Gangtok.
Set amidst the lush organic tea plantations surrounding the historic property, the shoot highlighted traditional attire worn by Tibetan communities in Sikkim and Darjeeling. Maitra posed in a Bakhu or Chupa ensemble a flowing satin silk brocade robe paired with a full-sleeve blouse known as a honju against the scenic backdrop of rolling tea gardens and Himalayan landscapes.
The Temi Bungalow, managed by Eco Adventure Resorts, is located within the sprawling Temi Tea Estate, spread across nearly 400 acres. Originally built in 1885 by British missionaries, the restored colonial bungalow is surrounded by tea plantations first cultivated under the vision of Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last king of Sikkim, who envisioned the region as a sanctuary for Tibetan refugees.
According to Arijit Dutta, Temi’s tea gardens are not only visually stunning but also internationally recognised for producing award-winning tea. The second flush of Temi tea won a gold medal at the 2018 World Tea Awards held in Hangzhou.
The nearby Temi Tea Factory remains one of the major attractions for visitors, offering tea-tasting experiences and insights into the tea-making process from cultivation to plucking and production.
Celebrated globally under the recognition of the United Nations, International Tea Day highlights tea’s cultural significance, health benefits, and economic role in supporting rural communities and livelihoods. The impromptu shoot at Temi beautifully captured that spirit by blending fashion, heritage, tourism, and the timeless charm of Sikkim’s tea gardens into a unique visual story.
