Shaina Nc And Ritu Kumar Team Up To ‘Re-Invent Banaras’ At Lfw

Written by Khubi Amin Ahmed30th Jul 2015
SHAINA NC AND RITU KUMAR TEAM UP TO ‘RE-INVENT BANARAS’ AT LFW
Lately, there has been a growing consciousness with regard to revisiting our own artisans, textiles and handloom heritage. Taking cues from this, designer politician Shaina NC has conceptualized and co-curated a full-fledged initiative in association with Lakmé Fashion Week for the revival of Indian handlooms. With a keen focus on Banrasi handlooms this year, the initiative is titled ‘Re-invent Banaras’ and is part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative powered by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

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It could be for the love of Banarasi authenticity or the exoticism of Banarasi handlooms but the cause has already managed to garner much support from the designer brigade, as many of them have extended their support and lend designs for the benefit of Banarsi artisans. For the launch of ‘Re-invent Banaras’ at Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, designer Ritu Kumar, Shaina NC, Hemang Agrawal among other designers like Krishna Mehta and Shruti Sancheti, took time out to address this crucial cause of restoring Indian handlooms.

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Cutting the ribbon on this very important initiative Shaina NC shared her insights and aspirations with regard to the cause, “This entire initiative of reviving Indian textiles is more of a way to giving back to society, where designers give back to the artisans who have woven and created the most beautiful textile. Taking forward Hon. Prime Minister Modiji’s dream of ‘Make in India’, the design fraternity has come together in this collaboration, where all stakeholders create a product that is par excellence to show what ‘Make in India’ vis-à-vis the design fraternity can be. This will be the first time when the international textile and fashion community will take notice of India and its abundant textiles and pay focus to the artisans” she said.

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At the launch, Padma Shri designer Ritu Kumar revealed some designs from her ‘Varanasi Weaves’ collection, which is also slated to grace the ramps at Indian Handlooms and Textiles Day at Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festival 2015. Speaking of her contribution to the cause, she said "The aim of my design revival programme is to bring the fabulous tradition of gold and silver weaving in Banaras, back into the mainstream flow of fashion. The old holy city is not only the most ancient of old cities, the weaves of Banaras are the only surviving textiles in the world, where the skills of the master weavers create handlooms which are a true statement of the bespoke garment. These weaves and textiles are the most haute couture of all with a strong aesthetic statement of made in India. Banaras weaves are almost like ​ a monument worth preserving like no other, in the world​".

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Amongst all the other propagations that the initiative has to offer in order to celebrate the rich Indian heritage of hand-woven fashion, it has also scheduled a special exhibition at Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum for Lakmé Fashion Week. The exhibit will be a showcase of India’s top fashion brands like Ritu Kumar, Anita Dongre, Ritu Beri, Gaurav Gupta, Varun Bahl, Rina Dhaka, Krishna Mehta, Shruti Sancheti and Abhishek Gupta among others, on a single platform. The exhibition is again a part of a nationwide campaign led by Shaina NC to uplift the Banaras handloom industry as part of the ‘Make In India’ initiative.

Khubi Amin Ahmed

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Deputy Editor, Writer/Journalist, Avid reader, Moonlighting literature loony, culinary and art fanatic. Unconventional eternal!
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