Apparel March 2020 Apparel March 2020 issue | Page 39

FEATURE
show. New facets, related to India’s history and
heritage as well as collaborations, are introduced
each year. “In the context of the Royal Textiles of
India theme of this year’s Walking Hand in Hand,
the foundation was grateful that H H Rajmata
Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad and H H Maharani
Radhikaraje Gaekwad graciously offered a part of
the Lukshmi Vilas Palace, their personal residence
in Baroda, for the show. It provided the perfect
backdrop for showcasing the collections,” said Asif.
The 5th Walking Hand In Hand show also
featured a collaboration with an international
designer to convey the potential possibilities for
Indian designers and artisans to work with non-
Indian clientele. As a tribute to textile patrons who
rendered exceptional efforts to collect, promote
and preserve textile crafts, CDS Art Foundation
presented Judith Espinar, co-founder, of the
International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe; Rani
Darshana Kumari, who has worked tirelessly to
preserve Ashavali brocades; and master weaver K
Rajaram, founder Sundari Silks, with the Lifetime
Achievement Award 2020.
THE COLLECTIONS
The Royal Textiles of India show presented nine
collections that showcased the beauty of royal
textiles as worn by royalty in times past. The show
aimed to convey that handmade Indian textiles
are among the finest in the world and can used to
manufacture traditional Indian attire as much as for
haute couture garments worn by patrons across
the world.
THE RAJMATA AND
THE MAHARANI
GRACIOUSLY OFFERED
A PART OF THE LUKSHMI
VILAS PALACE, IN BARODA
FOR THE FASHION SHOW
“The Baroda Shalu was a collection of
lightweight, elegant sarees worn by the ladies
of the Baroda royal family. There was no
documentation of it and it hasn’t been woven for
over half a century. We spent hours researching
the textiles in the personal collection of the royal
family and revived its design, colour palette
and texture. The sarees in the collection have
THE NINE COLLECTIONS
been woven with cotton, silk and metal yarns
The nine collections were presented individually.
and have been embellished with floral motifs
The show opened with a spectacular collection
as seen on the old Baroda Shalus,” explained
with the Baroda Shalu, a collection of sarees
Asif on the efforts taken to revive the dead
designed by H H Rajmata Shubhanginiraje
textile. The presentation of Baroda Shalus was
Gaekwad, H H Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad
followed by a contemporary-style performance
and Asif Shaikh. The pieces were woven by master by Bharatanatyam dancer Revanta Sarabhai who
weaver Saeed-ur-Rehman and his team of weavers celebrated the power of tradition echoing the
at Benares, Uttar Pradesh.
sentiments of the fashion show.
APPAREL
I
March 2020
I
37