Latest news with #Lilaowala
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Natasha Poonawalla takes Parsi heritage to Met Gala 2025 with traditional Gara outfit
At this year's Met Gala, themed 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style', Pune's Natasha Poonawalla didn't just serve fashion, but heritage. Draped in a custom Manish Malhotra ensemble adorned with authentic Parsi Gara embroidery, she brought a piece of her community's cultural legacy to one of the most prestigious fashion stages in the world, the Met Gala in Manhattan. The look was styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, also a Parsi, making the moment even more rooted in identity and intention. 'It was spectacular,' said Ashdeen Lilaowala, one of India's most respected Gara designers. 'She took Parsi embroidery to the Met. That's huge. It's always great to see a craft we hold so dear represented on an international platform,' said the textile designer. Gara embroidery isn't just beautiful, it's steeped in history. The art form originated when Parsi traders began interacting with Chinese artisans, eventually adapting the delicate embroidery into what became known as Gara. It was often used in saris worn during weddings and ceremonies, filled with motifs of birds, flowers, and natural elements that reflect the Parsi reverence for nature. 'When Parsis were thriving in trade and settling in Bombay, Gara became part of their identity,' Lilaowala explained. 'It wasn't cheap or mass-produced. It was precious, ceremonial,' he said. Also read | Kiara Advani to Shah Rukh Khan: 7 Indian celebrities to attend the Met Gala this year, here's what we know about their look In Pune, the Parsi community has had a huge influence and has long held its traditions close. Many families still treasure their heirloom Gara saris, wearing them on auspicious occasions. 'We may not talk about it much, but for special occasions, we always go back to our Gara pieces. It's part of who we are,' said a young Parsi woman from the city. While one outfit won't create a trend overnight, Lilaowala said its global spotlight is still impactful. 'It creates interest, starts conversations. Someone abroad might read about it, follow our page, and get curious. That alone is valuable,' said Lilaowala, who is known for his experiments in Parsi Gara saris. Today, designers like him are innovating within tradition, blending Gara with bandhani and leheriya. 'It's a classic,' he said. Once reserved for saris worn at weddings and auspicious occasions, Gara has evolved, now appearing on lehengas, jackets, and even kanjivaram silks. 'It will never be massy, but it has huge potential. It's up to designers to find the right aesthetic and continue evolving it,' he said. Poonawalla's Met Gala appearances have been consistently bold, blending art, fashion, and identity. Known for her opulent, avant-garde looks, she's become a fixture at the annual event, and this year, she made her heritage the headline. 'It was a really smart move,' he added. 'For Natasha to use something from her heritage and add such a fine personal touch to her Met Gala outfit,' said Lilaowala.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
When the Sari Meets the Kimono
Summer is here and if you're looking for the perfect prints that blend timeless tradition with global appeal, Floralista brings the perfect prints that take centre stage, with a monsoon bloom. Renowned for reviving the Parsi Gara embroidery tradition, designer Ashdeen Lilaowala is best known for intricately hand-embroidered saris that speak of heirloom elegance. Parsi Gara embroidery, with its heritage-rich roots and meticulous craftsmanship, has long stood as a symbol of cultural legacy—where each thread spins a story of tradition, artistry, and time-honoured brand now reimagines its signature aesthetic for the Spring-Summer 2025. This season, embroidery takes a graceful step back, allowing vibrant prints to lead the narrative, offering a lighter, more contemporary take on timeless elegance. A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Lilaowala began his journey in textiles as a researcher with the Ministry of Textiles and UNESCO's Parzor Foundation. His deep dive into the cultural richness of Parsi embroidery led to the publication of Threads of Continuity – The Zoroastrian Craft of Kusti Weaving (Parzor, 2013), a book that explores the symbolic essence of this time-honoured craft. This collection pairs the floral saris with lightweight kimonos and styling accents inspired by Japanese minimalism, creating a global dialogue in design. Yet, even with its cross-cultural appeal, the soul of the sari remains Indian. Floralista is now available at Ashdeen ateliers in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad and for shoppers across the globe, the collection is also available online. Excerpts from the conversation with the designer:
