Apparel March 2020 Apparel March 2020 issue | Page 42

FEATURE
28 MODELS STOOD ON THE
RAMP SHOWCASING GARMENTS
OF THE NINE DESIGNER-ARTISAN
COLLABORATIONS WITH MASHAL-
CARRYING MEN JOINING THE GROUP
The following collection featured Paithani
sarees, a part of the royal and wedding attire
of Maharashtrians. Designed by Belaa Sanghvi
and woven by master weaver Lalit Digambar
Bhandge, Paithani weaving involves working with
multiple weft yarns that are wound around slim
bobbins. With their dazzling pallavs bearing silk
motifs on a gold ground, the sarees brought back
the aura of regal Paithani sarees of times past.
The eighth collection presented draped and
stitched garments with textiles designed by
Yuvrani Meenal Kumari Singhdeo of Dhenkanal,
Odisha, in collaboration with Pattachitra artists
Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra and Debabrata Behra.
The collection promoted muted beauty and
grace through its motifs that were drawn from the
traditional crafts of Odisha, especially Pattachitra
and appliqué.
Wrapping up the main show was a collection
of stitched garments with a glamorous touch
and international appeal designed by designer
Shefali Khanna using Kanjeevaram silks by textile
weaver and mentor Rajaram from Tamil Nadu. He
is an eight generation descendant of a family of
master weavers, and founder of the iconic store
Sundari Silks, in Chennai. Shefali, with her two-
decade long experience of all aspects of design
and merchandising in the US, and Rajaram, with
his knowledge of Kanjeevaram weaves, together
created the collection for the show.
40
I APPAREL I
March 2020
THE TEXTILE TAKEAWAY
After the collections were presented, the
designer-artisan duo walked the ramp to be
introduced to the audience. The royal insignia and
flags were presented, and models walked the
ramp showing three garments of each designer.
At the end of the segment 28 models stood on
the ramp showing garments by the nine designer-
artisan collaborations with men, dressed in
traditional attire and carrying mashals, joining the
group. “The aim of presenting the garments at the
finale was to show the audience the diversity of
Indian textile crafts and to emphasise that each
craft is beautiful and that we should not succumb
to the trend of simply having one textile craft as
being in fashion each year,” informed Ali.
The show was attended by the residents of
Baroda and by textile lovers from across the
country and world. It was a great success as the
audience appreciated the beauty of the textiles;
of the draped and stitched garments; and of the
backdrop of the palace that was lit to highlight
its architectural elements. Adding to the mood, a
full moon gradually rose behind the facade and
glorified the event in its silvery light.
“In the days after the show many of the invitees
from abroad visited local textile stores, designer
studios and museums in Baroda, Ahmedabad
and Patan, purchasing textiles and garments. The
show stimulated them to learn more about Indian
textiles and to procure them. This conveys that
fashion shows, rooted in India’s traditional textile
crafts with an international appeal, can be very
effective for our artisans, designers and tourism,”
signed off Asif.