This project is a part of my four year course of B.Design in Textiles where I had to work in a company and design some products keeping textiles in mind. Before starting the project, I was very keen to work in a commercial industry but then I got something really different from what I wanted. I got an offer from the company Injiri. I started working there from the last week of November. I was not working there just to complete my collections but for my learning. Working with them not only gave me industrial exposure but also gave me a direction for future.
This project was very different from what I have done earlier. Working with Injiri was quite an experience. I have learnt a lot and gained a lot of experience. I designed my warp patterns in December only because they were given for production in Andhra Pradesh. The textiles took two months to complete. Except from the hand looms of Andhra Pradesh, I have worked on a lot of other Indian textiles.
My garments were made in Jaipur. I designed the silhouettes also inspired by the folk garments. The garments are very loose keeping comfort in mind. We played with the warp patterns in each piece. Each piece is like a story.
There are a lot of things that bothered me. I visited Bagru everyday for two weeks and worked with the craftsmen. Most of the craftsmen are poor and not paid well. They don’t even want their kids to work on the craft. Their living conditions are deprived. They are just surviving. I could see the end of such crafts when I went there.
I want to work with these people and try to promote the craft as much as I can from my level. And I hope to inspire more students and designers like me to work for the crafts. Getting appreciation for the work is one thing and inspiring someone is another.
Dhaari is one project which will always be in my heart. This collection of textiles is very special to me and I aspire to do more projects like this. It gave me more than what I wanted. It is wonderful to see the collaboration of the traditional textiles and the folk garments in a modernised way. I feel very proud to showcase my collection as my graduation project.
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