Reposted from:
Scroll.in
In an increasingly concretised
country, these men and women are going against the grain.
India is in the throes of a planning frenzy and several smart cities are on the anvil. The country’s property boom, besides being hungry for sand, iron, cement and water, is quickly obliterating any nuances that existed in traditional design to address the region’s climate, environment and culture.
But there is a breed of Indian architects who are going against the grain and espousing sustainability as a defining feature of their work. Choosing to turn their back on green rating systems and sustainability certifications, these...
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Reposted from:
Live Mint
It’s been 16 years since the Bhuj earthquake wiped out lives, livelihoods
and villages. A journey through the region now reveals how it has found new life through crafts, and how tradition has become its route to modernity
When a natural calamity destroys lives and livelihoods, assets and resources, human capital and wealth, the survivors and state stare at a difficult question: What should be restored and what should be allowed to pass? Kutch in Gujarat faced this question after 26 January 2001. Kutch lives by its crafts and textiles, and with its diverse yet syncretic... Read More
Reposted from:
Verve Magazine
The traditionally laborious technique has now given way to digital prints and synthetic methods
A hot, humid 2010 summer day in Houston could not dampen my excitement. A book I had ordered had just been delivered. It was
Chintz: Indian textiles for the West written by Rosemary Crill and published by the V&A. The cause of my quickened pulse and hungry eyes were visions of undulating trees laden with unimaginable, exotic flowers and leaves, mischievous birds and animals in resplendent colours, coming together on fabric.
As I contemplated ideas I wanted to pursue when I relocated to India...
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Reposted from:
Verve Magazine
Maku, through its clothes, embodies the ideologies of a more tolerant world. Santanu Das, its founder, tells us its story and what defines it
Santanu Das, founder at Maku | Image Source: Verve Magazine
After finishing his course at NID and working in New York, Santanu Das, founder at Maku, decided to immerse himself into his roots and culture. What culminated from this was a deeply embedded desire to reconnect with his past and share his artistic story with a wider audience. We caught up with Das at Good Earth’s ‘Slow Fashion’ pop-up, as he spoke to...
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Reposted from:
The Better India
Few countries have used fabric as a tool to achieve freedom. And that’s the reason why nearly seven decades after India gained its hard-won independence, khadi continues to inspire and amaze people around the globe.
A fabric that embodies a worldview of the past as well as of the future, khadi is a symbol of Indian textile heritage.
The word itself is derived from ‘khaddar’, a term for handspun fabric in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. While khadi is usually manufactured from cotton, contrary to popular belief, it is also made from silk and woolen yarn (called khadi...
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Reposted from:
Firstpost
You may have seen Pochampally ikat or Patola ikat saris in your mother's wardrobes, which she is sure to count among her prized possessions. But today, ikat is not just limited to traditional garb. From breezy tops to funky footwear and bags, the textile technique is being used by designers in a more contemporary avatar.
Designer Amit Aggarwal, whose recent collection has Patola saris (a double ikat woven saree) transformed into his signature sculpted forms, says it is crucial to make an age-old art like ikat relevant and more accessible for people today, and designers have taken up the...
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Reposted from:
CN Traveller
These bunch of folks are pushing the India brand all the way, with a focus on indie ingredients, resources and design
This is part II of the story
50 people changing the way India eats, read part
I, III,
IV,
V.
Kumud Dadlani, provenance manager, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality
Kumud Dadlani is fighting the good fight.| Image Source: CN Traveller
“I want people to think about where cities get their food from, and to understand why we eat what we eat.” For...
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Reposted from:
Live Mint
The fulcrum of an initiative that wants to take the weave back to the worker
The Malkha Marketing Trust has just moved into expansive new premises in the heart of the commercial district in Secunderabad. Despite their best efforts at disseminating the information through social media, not all their client base is aware of the showroom’s move from its Masab Tank Road address in twin city Hyderabad. For four years, it was the only outlet for Malkha cotton fabrics and had built up a loyal following. Consequently, there are real levels of anxiety in the callers... Read More
Reposted from:
The Hindu
As Varana welcomes London’s elite, graphic designer Sujata Keshavan tells us why she switched lanes and how this is the first Indian fashion experiment of its kind
Dover Street in London’s Mayfair, a neighbourhood salted with high fashion stores like Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Victoria Beckham, became the address of Varana on May 10. Spread across four floors that were previously occupied by Alexander McQueen, the womenswear boutique is a project by renowned graphic designer Sujata Keshavan, and her partners, Ravi Prasad and Meeta Malhotra. Their ambition is to deliver to the world an Indian luxury...
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Reposted from:
Parisera
Introduction and etymology
The name Paithani is derived from its land of origin, the Paithan or Pratisthan. From the elaborate veins, florals, peacocks, parrots and even Buddha himself gazes from its pallav and the design continues on borders. The Paithan is also called the Kashi of Deccan, flourishing along the banks of Godavari. This visually stunning sari is an epitome of handcrafted luxury.
Ravi verma portrait of a royal woman wearing Paithani (1893).
(Source – Wikimedia Commons)
Paithani bridal sari from 19th century.
(Source – Wikimedia Commons)
History
The ancient legacy of Paithani can be traced back...
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