The first edition of the Rajasthan Heritage Week was launched in the City on Friday intended to promote traditional textiles. Four of the designers from Bengaluru will be presenting their Khadi creations at the event. The event will be held from December 3 to 5 in Jaipur.

The event is being organised by Bengaluru-based Prasad Bidappa Associates, the Government of Rajasthan and the Khadi Board - is a window into the universe of crafts and textiles, particularly historical fabric khadi and handmade fabrics unique to the state. The three-day fest would showcase, celebrate and honour the excruciating labour of these gifted artisans and marry rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge modern design.

Pavithra Muddaya, Tara Aslam, Manish Saksena, Jason and Anshu are the Bengaluru-based designers who took part in the ‘Handmade in Rajasthan’ project. Along with designers from other parts of the country and abroad, they worked closely with traditional handloom weavers in interior villages in Rajasthan.

The pilot project which was started with Bangladeshi designer Bibi Russell was taken forward on a larger scale after the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje was impressed with the collection she created. At the event on Friday, models showcased Russell’s colourful and fresh creations.

Prasad Bidappa, the organiser and chief creative director of the project, said that the intention of the project is to revive India’s traditional fabric and make it more appealing to the younger generation and for a foreign audience. Through this initiative, eight national award-winning weavers have been elevated to the status of designers with their creations being exhibited at the Rajasthan Heritage Week that is the biggest achievement

Pavitra Muddaya, who runs Vimor, along with her mother Chimi Nanjappa in this field for 40 years, talked about the challenges she faced in the project. Muddaya has been working as a textile revivalist, documenting techniques and providing training to traditional weavers. According to her, the way they work there, the processes, the terminology is very different from South India. She added that it was an eye-opener for her.

Tara Aslam, who has a Khadi store in Bengaluru called Nature Alley, created designs for modern travellers inspired by the tribes of Rajasthan, and Jason & Anshu of the label ‘smallshop’ designed eclectic menswear and womenswear.

Manish Saksena who worked with traditional weavers in Kaithoon village in Rajasthan’s Kota district to create 18 sarees said that in the past he have worked with Pethanis and Maheshwaris but this was the first time that he worked with something from Rajasthan.

Two of the people he collaborated with were master craftsmen and it was very humbling to work with them. he added. The sarees produced entirely by hand, it took him and the weavers two months to complete them which will be sold for Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 a piece.

The Rajasthan Heritage Week will integrate textile arts of the state with the most talented designers in India and overseas. Here, weavers will be celebrated on par with designers.