Stamp of exclusivity

MASTERPIECES FROM India's repertoire of legendary saris come together in a stunning mosaic of weave and craftsmanship at Craft Council of India's sari exhibition which will be held at Hotel Chola Sheraton on October 4 and 5. Woven by masterweavers, the saris will range from Paithanis with dazzling bejewelled borders to unique Patan patolas and Ashawalis which represent the acme of the ikat weave, the intricate bandhini from Gujarat, the enduring magic of woven Benarasis, tussars and jamdaanis and much more. While essentially rooted in traditional design and motif, the saris will mirror design inputs, responses and colour combinations which reflect the evolving styles in the sari scenario, the masterpieces in sari elegance created by the juxtapostioning of block prints, the magic stitches of Kantha, the chic shades of Benarasi cutwork, the ethereal chikan sari....

The unerring stamp of exclusivity marks every sari at CCI's sale, whether it be for a bride's trousseau, for a festive occasion, party or even elegant daywear. There will be rare `antique' saris for the true blue collector and delicately woven exclusively designed Maheshwaris, Chanderis and Kotas for all the warm seasons of Chennai. Loveliest of silk block printed saris will rub space with soft Venkatagiri cottons in subtle shades and Uppadas from Andhra. A touch of Kalamkari magic for festive wear, Pochampallis in a range of soft or vibrant hues - the Crafts Council of India's exclusive sari exhibition will have it all. Silver, gold and gem jewellery will also be available at the sale.

The saris on sale at the Crafts Council of India take into the new millennium the tapestry of great craft skills which go into weaving the country's fabled sari heritage.

The proceeds from the sale will go to CCI's craftsmen's welfare projects.

Trendy cottons

The ancient skill of fine cotton weaving in India, particularly among small weaving communities, stands at the crossroads today. Lack of organised marketing support has forced many traditional weavers to abandon precious skills for more lucrative urban employment. Dastkar Andhra's support through individual marketing which creates direct links between the client and the producer is a landmark effort which is helping the great textile heritage of Andhra survive. Sunitha Gopal's sale of lovely Andhra cottons opened at C.P. Art Centre's mini hall on September 28. A wide range of cotton, khadis and silk cotton mix saris for chic day wear make a very elegant splash at the sale, along with cotton dupattas, blouses, etc.

Very attractive saris in mellow tones with khadi in the warp and handloom in the weft make understated fashion statements at the Dastkar sale. With contrast temple borders they represent today's trends in innovation. Also very effective are a wide range of khadi saris with lovely muga borders in off-white and earth shades, with matching blouses.

Stunning ikat saris from Andhra and a range of Pochampallis in vivid colours are a compelling feature of the sale. In white, off white or with all-over ikkat weaves, the saris represent the best of Andhra's cotton. Also available at Sunitha Gopal's exhibition of Dastkar saris are Kalamkari and Pochampalli bed spreads and upholstery and yardage as well as dupattas in cool Andhra cotton. The famous Chinnur and Ponderu khadi saris are also on display. Many of these use only vegetable dyes. In each of the items on display, Dastkar Andhra has worked with the small weaver in the areas of design input, natural dye inputs, finance, loans, etc.

The Dastkar sale concludes on September 30.

PUSHPA CHARI

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