profile collections process exhibitions press contact   Shoto Banerji   Shoto Banerji trained as a Textile Designer, initially in India, and then in London at the Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. She has always been fascinated with the connection of the fabric with the outcome – in the case of fashion, the garment. This led to her degree collection – knitted garments that combined ceramics, textiles and jewellery fired in the kiln at 1200 degrees centigrade.

She has worked since 1999 with traditional handloom weavers in Central India, whose experience hitherto has been principally weaving cotton saris. Her art serves to attain two principal objectives. First, to help conserve the traditional weaving skills of these artisans, helping them evolve into a wider range of fabrics and products – better suited for the international market. Her collection consists of shawls, stoles and scarves, hand-woven by the same artisans; but in silk, and in blends of wool and silk.

Her second objective as an artist is to present a unique range of Inspirational Fabrics (Elahi) – where the linkage between the inspiration and the final product is part of the experience. Her principle source of inspiration is drawing on nature. Her first collection is based on the birds of India, following on from a visit to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Her next collection is based on Orchids, following on from a visit to Chiang-Mai in Thailand.

Shoto has exhibited her collections in Antwerp, Brussels, Delhi, London, Mumbai, New York and Singapore. She is a member of the Chartered Society of Designers (U.K.).