Designer Anshuma Damani weaves ethnic threads into a handloom wear

Chennai-based designer Anshuma Damani keeping the traditional content alive in the indigenous handloom has come up with a selection of hand-woven products that mainly consist of three ingredients – Chanderi, Maheshwari and Tussar yarns.

Her collection ‘Kalaborate’ is a collaboration of Indian textile art that weaves ethnic threads into a handloom wear. By infusing embroideries, shibori work and other patterns, it does not take much time for the handloom fabric to turn into a rare piece.

Checked Maheshwari sari with a hand-block printed floral embellishment and a floral digital print attached blouse, Maheshwari silk sari with oganza pallu, Chanderi silk saris with unusual colour combination, handloom saris with discharge printing, hand-woven kurtas and a range of ready-to-wear ethnic blouses that can be paired with palazzos, long skirts and saris form a part of the collection. Here, the half-and-half sari takes a horizontal format instead of a vertical pattern.

A lot of thought has gone into weaving each sari. The traditional block print techniques have been experimented to create intricate patterns.

Ms. Damani said that as a designer, there is a need to experiment constantly with these textures and try to bring innovative patterns otherwise the craft will soon become extinct. The trick lies in how well they blend these techniques keeping their limitations in mind.

Some of the designer’s creations are exhibited at Om The Design Studio, located at Nowroji Road. Shoppers till Tuesday. Mumbai, the City of Destiny has always been an encouraging destination to exhibit her ensembles.

Handloom products have gone through a metamorphosis over the decades, from granny’s prized possession to a unique finery that a youngster likes to invest in handloom.