Batua bags, the vintage coin purses, are emerging as the new wedding-season favourite, challenging the long reign of potlis. Championed by Bollywood stars including Khushi, Karisma, Alia and Sonam Kapoor, these embroidered, beaded and tasselled batuas pair seamlessly with saris and lehengas, spotlighting traditional craftsmanship while adding a fresh, romantic twist to Indian occasion wear.
When it comes to wedding style, nothing can dethrone the good old potli bag. Minaudières and top handle bags can try, but they will never come close to the sheer dominance that the potli has over wedding fashion. No matter what your sartorial choices are like, there seems to be a bag like that for every outfit. However, one version of the lil carry-all that is slowly making its way into mainstream wedding fashion is the old-fashioned coin purse, or the classic batua. This bag is super hot right now, and also comes with a stamp of approval from Bollywood girls. Khushi Kapoor and Athiya Shetty to Sara Ali Khan and Karishma Kapoor, everybody seems to be loving the batua bag.
During Anshula Kapoor’s pre-wedding festivities, Khushi Kapoor was seen wearing a red and green colour-block sari, paired with a batua bag that had a patchwork style detail. Then for the wedding, she again paired her pastel green floral lehenga with a matching embroidered batua bag. Twice in two days marks a telling statement for the bag!
Karisma Kapoor also hopped onto the batua bandwagon with an ivory and gold sari, that she teamed with a matching batua bag with a chain string.
Creating a buzz of her own, Alia Bhatt has been seen carrying the batua bag not too long ago and she did so in the most classic, romantic way. The actress styled her blush pink Tarun Tahiliani sari with a matching pink batua.
Sonam Kapoor, who loves all things ethnic, paired her muted Tarun Tahiliani outfit with a matching batua bag with tone-on-tone embroidery. It spelt evening elegance, covered in beads with a dainty chain string.
We loved Athiya Shetty’s too! She wore a gold kurta set from House of Masaba, and styled it with an ivory batua bag, embroidered in gold. What’s interesting is that the bag also had a long tassel hanging from its base.
Making a case for traditional craftsmanship, Natasha Poonawalla styled her Kantha-embroidered Arpita Mehta ensemble with Kantha earrings, and a matching batua.
Jacqueline Fernandez carried a batua bag crafted in silk along with her colour-block lehenga.
Kanika Kapoor styled her metallic Manish Malhotra sari with a matching metallic batua with a chain string.