Latest news with #WarpandWeft
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Hindostan Archive Revives Suf, Kharek & Rabari Embroidery in Contemporary Indian Fashion
It is not often that the dream to start one's own venture, when still in college, comes true. For college mates-turned-business partners Shaoni Ray and Sahil Meenia, it is quite the opposite. While studying at National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, the duo found themselves interning in Kolkata (at Shaoni's mother's boutique, Warp and Weft) alongside kantha artisans. 'We realised the potential of blending traditional techniques with modern design. With no formal plan or resources, we launched a menswear brand on Instagram, and created a 30-piece collection during the internship,' says Shaoni, 24, brand director. Weeks of brainstorming led to the name Hindostan Archive, a tribute to the 'subcontinent's pre-Partition unity before and during British rule in India'. With Sahil's roots tracing back to Pakistan, and Shaoni's to Bangladesh, the duo wanted to reclaim that sense of unity and explore the interconnected textile legacies of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. 'I realised there was a dearth in handmade, designer wear, especially in the West. Trends are changing today with men experimenting with colours and cuts. I wanted to bank on India's craft heritage, and using my artisan contacts, I cut out the middlemen,' says Sahil, 24, the brand's creative director. When the designers visited Shaoni's ancestral village Gangarampur, West Bengal, near the Indo-Bangladesh border, they shot their first collection . 'In my family home, we found old kantha blankets handcrafted by my great-grandmother before the Partition. She had meticulously stitched together scraps of beautiful silk fabrics to create the quilts. We had been working with artisans in Shantiniketan, but discovering the blankets blew us away,' says Shaoni, adding that the blankets looked similar to Japanese boro stitching, which also promotes mending. They brought one of these heirloom blankets back to Kolkata, which was the seed for Hindostan Archive. 'Recognising the parallels between kantha and boro, we envisioned transforming this traditional craft into something modern. This led to the creation of our first silk patchwork kantha jacket. Sahil further enhanced the design by lining it with my mother's checked pure silk sari that she hand-painted,' she says of the brand's first design that was eventually acquired by a private textile collector. The designers are now out with their latest collection, Indian Summers, that draws from 'the fleeting beauty of a late summer'. Forgotten crafts and rare techniques from Gujarat such as pakko, Rabari and suf embroidery, Bhujodi weaving, and kharek, have been reimagined onto airy silk shirts, oversized denim jackets, and tailored kurtas. 'It's about honoring India's craft legacy while making it relatable today,' says Sahil, of the range in summery shades of turmeric yellow, indigo, burnt orange, and moss green. 'Standout pieces that we are proud of include a black denim jacket dyed naturally with iron rust, adorned with silver ghungroos along the seams, and a bandhani ceremonial shirt inspired by Gujarati bridal wear, layered with hues of red, white, and yellow. We also used organic kala cotton, khadi, and mashru silk, ensuring every piece is handmade with care, some taking weeks to complete.' He further says that they work with crafts rooted in India's diverse regional clusters such as Kashmir's pashmina weaving, Rajasthan's dabu, Bengal's kantha, etc. 'Each collection highlights a mix of well-known crafts (like ajrakh) and lesser-documented ones (like Rabari patchwork or kharek), ensuring we balance awareness with discovery. In Indian Summers, we paired Gujarat's Bhujodi weaves featuring motifs like popati (triangle) and chaumukh (a four-sided pattern) to create a dialogue between pastoral storytelling and contemporary design, he says, explaining how techniques are never altered, but their application is reimagined. Organic and handwoven fabrics such as kala cotton, khadi, pashmina, natural dyed denim, silk, and linen are used, alongside natural dyes derived from turmeric, myrobalan, pomegranate rind, mud, and indigo. 'All textile waste is repurposed, think upcycled linings, stuffed accessories, or patchwork totes, to minimise landfill contribution. We focus on creating timeless, durable pieces designed to outlast trends, because sustainability starts with consuming less,' says Shaoni. While Hindostan Archive is a menswear label, over time, their androgynous silhouettes of jackets, relaxed trousers, and oversized shirts found takers among women too. 'This organic shift led us to consciously label these pieces as unisex to reflect their universal appeal,' says Shaoni, adding that they will launch their first dedicated womenswear collection in A/W 2025. The duo is now exploring textiles in India's northeastern regions and collaborating with local artisans to reinterpret traditional techniques like backstrap loom weaving and natural dyeing. 'Our upcoming collections will spotlight these textiles across various categories, including knitwear, cardigans, denim, and womenswear. We're also developing a line of accessories. To us, heritage isn't just stored in museums; it stays alive when people wear it, share it, and keep its stories alive,' concludes Shaoni. Upwards of ₹5,000 on
Mint
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
6 events you must check out this Mother's Day weekend
In a collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, artist Gurjeet Singh has created a new body of work to reflect the reality of artisans' lives. The exhibition, Dreamers, has been envisioned not just as a 'tribute to the lives of artisans and residents of Jaipur…but also the emotions that Gurjeet resonated with most deeply,' states the gallery note. Throughout his practice, Singh has explored ideas of queerness and identity through his textile sculptures. In this show, he looks at the notion of individuality in relation to the 'patriarchal and tradition-bound context of the artisans' lives.' The collaborative pieces ere created with Godhi, Boogli, Gajanand, Pinki, Pushpa, Jahir, Nishrat, and Rais. At Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai, till 7 June, 10am-6pm. A painting by Abhishek Singh on show at the 'Process to Path' exhibition. Ojas Art is presenting a solo exhibition, Process to Path, by Abhishek Singh, who combines spiritual themes, elements from myths and legends and a deep reverence for the natural world in his works. In this show, Singh has tried to decipher the relationship between the artist and the process of creating art through sketches and acrylic works on paper and canvas. 'The highlight is one of his live paintings, Elephants can Fly, created at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2024. This artwork also scripts the beginning of a new mythological narrative centred around elephants,' states the gallery note. At Ojas Art, Delhi, till 21 June, 11am-7pm, closed on Sunday and Monday. Blondie's Dreamy's Mores Matcha. Blondie by Bastian will be hosting A Little Matcha, A Lot of Love, a unique matcha experience at Nine Dine to celebrate Mother's Day. The event is curated and hosted by matcha expert and co-founder Natasha Hemani who will be crafting her signature matcha lattes. Other attractions include the Croissant Station and the Make Your Own Charm Station. At Nine Dine, Jio World Drive, 11 May, 11am to 4pm. Tickets on Mother's Day Brunch at Seven Kitchens, The St. Regis Mumbai. The St. Regis Mumbai collaborates with Sephora India for a Mother's Day special brunch. On the menu are handcrafted delicacies such as Dan Dan Noodles, General Tso's Chicken, Ricotta & Spinach Crespelle, Medieval Blancmange, Shabdeg, Election Cake, Basbousa, and more. At Seven Kitchens, The St. Regis Mumbai, 11 May, 12.30pm to 4pm. For details, call 8657522956. NGMA's 'Warp and Weft' workshop will include talks, demos and hands on experience on weaving and eco printing. Ahead of International Museum Day on 18 May, the National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru is hosting Warp and Weft, a four-day workshop facilitated by 3rd Space Lab Collective. The workshop will feature talks and demos by handloom weavers, dyers and textile artists. The workshop is open to participants ages 18 years and above. Entry is free. At National Gallery of Modern Art, # 49, Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Road, Bengaluru, 14-17 May, 11am–5.30pm. For details and registration, An artist painting a mural Facilitated by artist Deepa Juliana, The Mural of the Story, is a multi-day workshop designed for 13-16 year olds that aims to introduce them to the art of mural painting. The young participants also get to paint their own murals. Registration fees for the workshop is ₹ 1,000. At MAP Bengaluru, Kasturba Road, Bengaluru, 12–17 May, 10am–4pm. For details, visit
Axios
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit: Jan. 24-26
Celebrate the warm(er) weather slated for this weekend! Get outside! Or … stay in. 🧟 If you're starry-eyed over '90s stars Brendan Fraser or Rachel Weisz (or both), you'll likely enjoy the Redford Theatre's screening of "The Mummy." Friday, 8pm. $7. 👕 Find some thrifted treasures at the Loving Touch Flea Market. Saturday, 12-5pm. Free! 🎤 Visit Valade Park for a chill vibe at its Fireside Fridays, with karaoke, board games, and food and drinks. Friday, 6-9pm. Free! 🧶 Attend the opening of a fabric-meets-tech art exhibition, " Warp and Weft," at a church converted into a gallery. Saturday, 5-8pm at the Shepherd. Free! 😂 Take in an evening of raucous, not-safe-for-work jokes at the Planet Ant Theatre's "Heavy Flow." Friday, 9-10:30pm. Tickets start at $20. 🪩 Or, there's always the option to dance the night away. Try " Issa Vibe" at Tangent Gallery. Saturday, 8pm-late. $15. 👞 Kick off your Sunday shoes at " Footloose the Musical" in Rochester. Friday 8pm, Saturday 6pm or Sunday 2pm. $48. 🎂 Trek to Canterbury Village in Lake Orion to celebrate Michigan's 187th birthday with a local vendor and artists' market. Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm. Free to enter.
