The Baby Trunk
When Mallika Bakshi launched The Baby Trunk in 2019, she set out to fill a distinct gap in India's baby care market - one that married luxury with conscious craftsmanship. Rooted in her background in art history and psychology, and inspired by her years in the international luxury segment, The Baby Trunk is a heartfelt homage to homegrown design, thoughtful gifting, and sustainable parenting. From organic, seasonless essentials to handcrafted hampers with a personal touch, the brand has become a go-to for discerning parents and gifters who value quality, aesthetics, and meaning in every purchase.
1. You launched The Baby Trunk in 2019 - what was the inspiration behind starting a brand dedicated to luxury for little ones? Was there a personal moment that sparked the idea?
The idea for The Baby Trunk came from a noticeable gap in the Indian market for elevated, sustainable, and thoughtfully designed baby essentials. My background and experience lie in art history and psychology. I have had a vast and fruitful explore exposure. Spending many years building my solid foundation in the international and domestic luxury segment. I always wanted to build something meaningful for the Indian community as I saw a vast untapped potential and pool of talent that continues to inspire us as a brand. I wanted to bring homegrown Indian products of international quality to Indian families and the vast majority that seek to "gift" meaningfully.
2. From bespoke hampers to handcrafted baby essentials, your brand caters to a very niche audience. How do you strike a balance between luxury and practicality when designing for babies and young children?
For me, luxury isn't just about aesthetics-it's about comfort, functionality, and longevity.
We prioritize hygiene and sustainability in every product we design, ensuring that they are practical for everyday use while maintaining an elegant appeal. Our garments are crafted from the best-grade organic cotton, featuring the highest thread count and optimal stitch quality (SPI). We design seasonless products that can be worn comfortably throughout the year.
Even our quilts come with washable covers, allowing parents to maintain hygiene without frequent washing of the entire quilt. By focusing on fabric sustainability, smart construction, and timeless design, we offer products that are both luxurious and highly functional.
3. Today's parents are far more conscious of what they buy - from organic fabrics to aesthetic packaging. How has this shift in consumer behavior shaped The Baby Trunk's product line?
While the market has recently seen a shift towards sustainability and organic products, we built The Baby Trunk with these values from the start. Coming from a manufacturing background, we understood the environmental impact of fashion and aimed to create a brand that was already aligned with these concerns. We continuously listen to our customers and adapt to their needs, whether that means enhancing a product feature or introducing something new. However, our core values remain unchanged. We are proactive in responding to customer feedback, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed their expectations. Our brand was built on sustainability, and that continues to be our driving force.
4. The gifting space, especially for babies and kids, is growing rapidly in India. What makes The Baby Trunk stand out in a sea of hampers and curated boxes?
Our uniqueness lies in our variety, customization, and personalized approach. We offer over 100 different hampers with multiple basket and box options, including cane, knitted, cloth, and organza versions. Customers can pick and choose products that reflect their personal style, making each hamper special. We also forecast trends and bring global styles to the Indian market, offering products that are both contemporary and timeless. Additionally, we provide Swarovski personalization on select items, making our products even more special. What truly sets us apart is our personal shopping assistant-a real person who curates hampers based on live interactions, allowing customers to make multiple changes until they get exactly what they want. This level of human-led customization is something no other brand offers.
5. You work with a network of artisans and focus on handcrafting-how important is it for you to blend traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern sensibilities?
We believe that true luxury comes from uniqueness. That's why we collaborate with skilled Indian artisans to create handcrafted, one-of-a-kind products. Mass production can never achieve the same level of artistry, which is why we keep our collections small and exclusive.
Our target audience-millennial parents-appreciate craftsmanship while looking for modern, minimalist designs for their Gen Alpha kids. We integrate traditional techniques like Kantha and handmade digital artworks into contemporary silhouettes.
6. Lastly, what's next for The Baby Trunk - any upcoming collaborations, new product lines, or expansions we should watch out for?
We are expanding beyond newborn essentials to cater to growing children and their evolving needs for child centric homes. As babies grow, our brand grows with them. Our range now includes products for toddlers and preteens, ensuring that parents can continue to rely on us through every stage of their child's life while also enjoying TBT exclusives for the whole family. We have partnered with All Things Baby, first through their e-commerce platform and now with an exclusive retail presence recently in their Bangalore store in Indiranagar. Other metropolitan cities are on the horizon. We are poised to soon launch flagship stores in New Delhi, setting new benchmarks in experiential retail. Designed to provide an exclusive touch-and-feel experience, these spaces will be curated sanctuaries of luxury, allowing our clientele to engage. Our vision is to create more than just a brand-it's about fostering a community that values quality and thoughtful design.
The Baby Trunk
Instagram: - https://www.instagram.com/the_baby_trunk?igsh=ZDBqbGRzbjh2b3k1
Website :- https://www.thebabytrunk.com/?utm_source
