Abraham and Thakore is celebrated for the seamless blend of eco-conscious handcrafted textiles and the astringent futurism that characterise the label's collections. "All “handmade” products should be valued as "luxury" and migrate up the value chain. The work of the human hand cannot be equated with powerloom machines. Designers' responsibility is to ensure contemporary design crafted from handwoven textiles are desirable and sought after,'' opines David Abraham. Rohit Kamra whose menswear has a regal sensibility, i.e., sherwani, bandhgala, trench and breeches reinterpreted with op hand-dyed pop colors and precision cuts. Kamra shares, "When I work with weavers I always think of them as designers without a formal education in fashion! Their design aesthetic and experience in textile craft and techniques is unparalleled. Once quality production accelerates, an upsurge will be seen. And though handloom textiles is becoming bigger by the day, it needs to be seen at the big stores. Imagine a jacket handcrafted with khadi wool in a tiny village in Rajasthan… selling at Harrods. The day is not far!"
Reminiscing about Rajasthan Heritage Week — it is one of the first to translate protection and preservation through contemporary design. The best way is not to keep such crafts in the museums; we need to translate traditional know-how and culture in a contemporary way. Only if traditional culture can become contemporary culture, can the past be reconnected with the younger generation. Hearing about designer's experiences working with skilled weavers and watching the magnificent collections on the runway transformed how I view fashion. We, as consumers, have a responsibility to support handmade. And when you're complimented for a beautiful handwoven Chanderi saree or khadi wool jacket … spare a thought for the humble craftsperson who made it.
Master Weaver Ram Kishore Derewala
Nivedita Saboo
Samant Chauhan
Raghavendra Rathore
Sri Lankan Designer
Ajai Vir Singh
Wendell Rodrigues