profile collections process exhibitions press contact   Kokila ShawlHandloomBadrika WrapWarp YarnsBustard WrapBadrika Wrap   India is a vast country which has a rich history of handloom weaving; which like most artesian skills needs support to survive in the present times. My work has been closely linked with the handloom weavers of Maheshwar in Central India. The purpose has been to try and blend the weavers’ (age old) skills with the demands of the (more modern) marketplace, and to try and see if one could transcend beyond their traditional home markets to the ones overseas as well. These weavers work under the auspices of entrenched NGOs (Non Government Organizations), and that process is already entrenched. What I have attempted to do therefore is not to substitute the NGO, but rather to supplant its efforts with new fabrics and designs that bring the effort of these weavers closer to markets, and hence to potential success.

Fabric Design
Diverse in character, handloom weaving has over the years been influenced by the culture, architecture and features particular to each region, with each one developing its very own directory of design that sets it apart.

The Maheshwari school was initiated by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, who commissioned Hindu and Muslim weavers – the former skilled in weaving saris, the latter in pagris – or elaborate turbans. They were to combine their skills to design saris for the newly widowed queen. She could wear no flamboyance.  Tasteful geometric patterns on borders of cotton saris heightened the elegance of royalty in mourning. What began as designs for a queen became a popular genre that has endured to the present. 

Materials
The end product that I seek to create must be luxurious to the touch, comfortable to wear, visually striking and represent understated elegance. At the core of my creations is silk as the base. To add warmth certain grades of wool are carefully selected to create the blends or linen for a select few creations.