Handloom rules the runway this season
The opening show of Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn-winter’ 17 will be a befitting start to the four-day spectacle, where FDCI and The Handloom School - supported by Good Earth, will acknowledge the anonymous makers who create magic with thread. In keeping with the tradition of promoting crafts, the Fashion Design Council of India’s (FDCI) will dedicate day one of Amazon India Fashion Week 2017, in association with Maybelline New York, to the indigenous textiles of the country. The event will be held from March 15-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, in the capital.
The creative geniuses, who will be adding a cerebral perspective include AKAARO, Antar-agni, eka, Neeru Kumar, péro, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Bal, Sanjay Garg, Suket Dhir, Urvashi Kaur, 11:11 along with Good Earth -Nicobar. Stylist Kshitij Kankaria will be working closely with the designers to materialise the final vision on the runway. Veteran designer Madhu Jain will be celebrating 30 years in the industry as a craft revivalist and textile conservationist, along with Krishna Mehta known for bringing Maheshwari fabrics to the limelight. The second day of this fashion extravaganza will showcase the pride of Assam with a show dedicated to what is popularly known as the ‘Queen of Textiles’ – Muga silk. The North-eastern state of Assam has been producing the royal silk and the weavers have been an intrinsic part of the national identity offering handlooms with an inbuilt shimmer. In keeping with its commitment to the ‘Make in India’ campaign, the FDCI is all set to transform the runway with a pleasing blend of luxe and tradition of this famed golden thread at an offsite venue – National Rail Museum in the Capital. This is an earnest attempt to safeguard the Assamese legacy and its fabulous and celebrated craftsmanship.
On the collaboration, Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI commemorated, “Muga silk is known for its durability and uninhibited gloss and this edition through our association with ‘Golden Threads of Assam’ we are relooking at telling a tale of Indian textile by reviving lost heritage.”
With Jharkhand as a “Partner State” at the four-day event of the Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2017, ‘Jharcraft’, is setting an example by creating new opportunities and making it profitable for weavers, giving them a definitive source of employment, while making the best use of available resources. The soul of Jharkhand lies in its handloom legacy, and the highlight of the show will be designer interpretations of the fabric de rigueur – Tussar.
“Every initiative of FDCI has been a step towards revisiting the India story. The opening show holds great value for us, and this show is our collective effort to encourage artisans and craftsmen, inspiring them to make the most of our heritage. With this show, we are certainly putting the right foot forward for representation of the hands that spin the yarn and weave the fabric,” said Sunil Sethi.