During Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012 the Indian textile and craft industry held an exhibition in the form of three series of workshops with focus on sharing and discussing experience within the industry. Jaya Jaitly, president of ‘Dastkari Haat Samiti’ representing Indian crafts people, spoke about presenting the Indian textile and crafts industry and how it can be promoted. Her aim is to bring the industry to a new level without worrying about tomorrow and “where their next day’s meal will come from” by uplift it with help from working students.
Wendell Rodricks, has been instrumental in reviving the Kunbi sari of Goa, explaining that India’s weaver’s needs to be encouraged and promoted by giving a contemporary path to follow. With that said, cultural growth will make a difference to the Indian textile and craft industry. Ritu Sethi, Chairperson of ‘Craft Revival Trust’ and Editor of online encyclopedia on arts, crafts and textiles, also focused on the importance of the young generation in the process of the Indian cultural art growth. In a nutshell, the Indian Textile Day workshops focused on how to bring forward and improve the textile industry of craft and how the fashion industry is influenced by it. For example, Rita Chisti, author of ‘Saris: Tradition and Beyond’, explained the Sari as a traditional garment but also showed a more modern adaptation with Indian roots. In conclusion, with confidence of the Indian heritage, the Indian textile and craft industry will improve to the better and identify their unconventional form of craft.
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Images courtesy of Lakmé India Fashion Week
Words By Elin Christensen
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