Next week, the thirty third version of Vastrabharana — the annual exhibition of handcrafted textiles and jewellery — will begin in Bengaluru. Organised by The Crafts Council of Karnataka (CCK), the occasion will deliver collectively weavers, designers, and artisans from throughout the nation. This yr, Vastrabharana is themed on Illusion and Fantasy, and is slated to be a tribute to the ‘power of imagination and storytelling in textile traditions… and invites participating artisans and designers to blur the boundaries between the real and imagined, playing with layers, colours and patterns’
A creation by Econic
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Special Arrangement
In the textile part, guests can store for ikkat weaves from Pochampally, Gujarat, and Odisha; materials from Kutch; handlooms from the Northeast; Kanchipuram and Benarasi silks; eco-prints; hand-painted Madhubani and Kalamkari saris, and extra. Sanghamitra Kalita, founding father of Guwahati-based Econic, as an illustration, will likely be bringing handloom saris and stoles. “These are made from eri silk (Ahimsa silk), and are dyed with vegetable dyes, and printed with real flowers and leaves. Each piece is handwoven, hand dyed and hand printed,” she says, including that Econic is a ladies artisan-led and artisan-run sustainable style model. “We collect discarded flowers from temples and markets, as well as vegetable and fruit peels from restaurants and juice shops, and we have transformed over 400 kilograms of organic waste into natural dyes.”
A creation at The Nomi
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Special Arrangement
Another model from the Northeast is The Nomi, and owner-director Susant Phukan says he will likely be bringing saris, dupattas, stoles, shirt items, and yardage in muga silk, eri silk, mulberry silk, tassar silk, and Moirangphee silk. The model, he says, is known as after his late sister who shared his love for handlooms. “The endeavour is aimed at boosting the socio-economic ecosystem and livelihood of artisans in the Northeast. We aspire to connect the region’s rich heritage and creativity to diverse markets across the globe,” says Susant of the label he launched in 2021.
An artisan at Rangsutra
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Special Arrangement
Also collaborating in the occasion is artisan-owned public restricted firm Rangsutra that works with “over 2,000 artisans” throughout Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Kashmir, Manipur, amongst different States. Shruti Mital, advertising and marketing and retail head, says Rangsutra will deliver their assortment titled Raagini, that has handlooms that includes embroidery drawn from Rajasthan’s deserts. “The collection is an assorted story of rich hand-woven saris in tussar and eri silk that feature suf embroidery and mirror work.”
A creation by Vriksh Designs
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Special Arrangement
Alongside attire, artisan-crafted jewellery corresponding to lac bangles by Madad Ali, thread jewellery by Kailash Patwa, silver jewellery from Aham, and sculptural silver items by Mrinalini Cariappa, will likely be on show.
From September 3 to 7 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Kumara Krupa Road, Bengaluru. 10 am to 7.30 pm. Free entry
