City show stoppers THE VINTAGE RENAISSANCE
It’s out with the new and in with the old! Taking inspiration from the era gone by, Indian designers are using old techniques and fabrics to give birth to stunning new pieces
No matter how cliché the adage “Old is gold” sounds, it still holds its relevance, and Indian designers are proof of it. Delving deep into the world of lost Indian textiles and vintage fabrics, couturiers have begun either mixing the old and new or creating something brilliant from an age-old piece of fabric. Levelling up the trend are labels such as That Antiquepiece, Re-Ceremonial and Delhi Vintage Co. Furthermore, even celebrities are vouching for it, including actor Sonam A Kapoor, who recently wore a vintage Banarasi saree with gold weave and antique techniques of surface embroidery.
Designer Yash Patil is inspired by everything from the bygone era. For his label That Antiquepiece, he uses vintage textiles sourced from different places. If that doesn’t work, he creates new pieces using historic weaving techniques. “Old textiles and pieces are a bottomless source of inspiration for me. It doesn’t necessarily have to be reflected in the same visual language. The time and dedication put towards each piece is unattainable in this fastpaced world, but is proof that wellmade pieces last forever and are cherished by generations,” he shares.
For many designers, reinventing old textiles or repurposing them is not only creative, but also a step towards sustainability . Mumbai-based designer Ateev Anand, who owns Re-Ceremonial, started off his journey by researching on recycling textile waste. Using ancient textile techniques like Himroo, he then launched his ceremonial range. “Our country has a rich lineage of textile weaving. Finding vintage textiles and recreating them is a wholesome experience. The idea of starting the brand was to go back to techniques lost in time. And I wanted to bring that back to the fore,” he tells us.
Manish Chhabra, creative irector of Delhi Vintage o., started his label 2018 with onef-a-kind pieces ade with old xtiles and mbroidery chniques. he pieces are limited in number, hence making them heirloom pieces.
“The wearer takes a sense of pride in donning the heritage pieces, so this trend is only going to grow further,”explains designer Nachiket Barve.
Old textiles and pieces are a bottomless source of inspiration for me. They are proof that well-made pieces last forever. YASH PATIL, Designer