The Cake For Dinner team recently traveled to India to source inspiration and fabrics for their upcoming Spring collection. The Spring line’s color palette is bright and vibrant. Jaipur, famously known as the “Pink City,” inspired the collection, and Peachy readers—who will be among the first to see it—will notice the region’s architecture reflected in both the shapes and the bold colors of the designs.
WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
The Cake For Dinner (CFD) team recently traveled to India to source inspiration and fabrics for their upcoming Spring collection.
CFD’s partnership with India is especially meaningful, not only because they work with an almost entirely women-led team—a point of great pride—but also because their recent visit included learning about block printing and touring CFD’s Jaipur facility.
“We observed how wood blocks are carved, how the printing ink is made, and we even had the chance to print with the blocks ourselves. It was a wonderful experience to learn about this ancient craft and to meet the skilled people behind the process,” says Mallory Atkins, CFD’s Creative Director.
From the beginning, CFD has been about more than fashion; it has always centered on mentoring girls and young women. Claire, the daughter of Chambless Kalka, CFD’s Founder and CEO, joined the team on the trip for the first time.
“Being able to share how our product is made with my daughter was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done. She was, of course, the inspiration behind the brand to begin with, but for her to finally have true appreciation for the full lifecycle of our products is just so special. Every trip to India is unforgettable, but to watch Claire experience it for the first time was amazing,” reflects Chambless.
Traveling to India influences the creative process in ways that designing from home can’t match. Being close to the fabrics and collaborating with the full team accelerates design decisions. Each Cake For Dinner vendor has an exceptional creative team that understands their vision and offers valuable input. The in-person connection keeps Chambless, Mallory, and the team fully engaged with both the design process and the people who bring their ideas to life.
Mallory notes, “It gives us the freedom to experiment with our designs without the delays of waiting weeks or months for changes. For instance, if we’re working on an embroidery piece and want to make adjustments, we can do so immediately, as it is placed on the machine right in front of us.”
Chambless describes the Spring line’s color palette as bright and vibrant. Jaipur, famously known as the “Pink City,” inspired the collection, and Peachy readers—who will be among the first to see it—will notice the region’s architecture reflected in both the shapes and the bold colors of the designs. “I’ve painted floral prints using vivid hues that we absolutely love,” adds Mallory.
CFD is excited that teenagers are embracing vibrant colors and creative combinations, including rich pastels and fun layered pieces paired with solid colors. Mallory reports, “There is a greater willingness to mix different styles and colors, with an emphasis on personalizing their fashion and making it their own. We’ve also noticed a renewed interest in summer knits, so we have expanded our collection to include adorable knit sets that we are really excited to launch.”
“The excitement continues,” says Chambless. “We have so many fun things happening, from pop-ups to special events. You can expect us to appear in plenty of places…and stay tuned for some exciting retail news as well!”
