28 February,2014 10:15 AM IST | | Soma Das
The Dhoop Chaon collection at Artisans celebrates this traditional saree weave
Rekha is a society that is dedicated towards improving the lives of Maheshwar's (Madhya Pradesh) handloom weavers and giving women employment by reviving the Maheshwari textile tradition. These sarees are a blend of silk and cotton and have a plain, soft-coloured body and a border and pallu, setting them apart from Paithani, Kancheepuram and other weaves.
Weavers at work
Community weave
Scions of the Holkar family provided Maheshwar's weavers with good yarn, designs, training and marketing back-up. Today, 130 weavers produce 1,00,000 metres of fine fabrics a year.
Their Spring-Summer collection will be launched at Artisans' and it is titled Dhoop Chaon to reflect the colourful balance between light and the dark hues; it also highlights soft pastels paired creatively with vivid hues. Design head Sunanda Dawar tells us more, "In the textile terminology, Dhoop Chaon also means a combination of two to achieve a change-on effect."
She adds that new textures and interesting borders makes this collection different: "Instead of using blocks of colour, this collection aims at using any two different colours in a balanced way. For example, a mix of onion pink and lavender blue in the body, accentuated with a bright pink border."
Shades include placid blue, along with red, fuchsia and orange, whereas prints include geometrics and bold florals
The collection will feature hand-woven and printed saris, dupattas and fabrics. Proceeds from its sale will go towards education, housing and medical care for Maheshwar's weavers and families.
On February 28 to March 1, 11 am to 7 pm
At Artisans', 52-56, Dr VB Gandhi Marg, Kala Ghoda.
Call 22673040
