SALUTING NARI SHAKTI
Designer Madhu Jain has been conferred Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 for being ecologically responsible in fashion
Sustainability is not a process. It’s a way of living life. For carrying this baton for over three decades to help empower artisans and be ecologically conscious, textile revivalist, conversationalist and fashion designer Madhu Jain was conferred the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017, on International Women’s Day (March 8) by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
She is among 30 women and nine organisations who were rewarded for being catalysts of change. Hailing craftsmen as the heroes, Jain says, “The truth is simple, there would be no indigenous handlooms sector without skilled craftspeople — from weavers to embroiderers — all of whom have finely honed proficiencies that cannot be learned overnight. Ethics in fashion is increasingly becoming important. Part of our responsibility lies towards nurturing the wealth that originates from the nimble fingers of our artisans. And the way to nurture their profession is to ensure markets for their work.”
The award also recognised her contribution to innovating with textiles, like her BambooSilk Ikat textile, which is biodegradable and leaves a negligible ecological footprint, which took over 15 years of work to create.
Part of our responsibility lies towards nurturing the wealth that originates from the nimble fingers of our artisans.
MADHU JAIN FASHION DESIGNER AND TEXTILE REVIVALIST