Home linen from Rehwa

Sept. 24 - 29

REHWA HOME LINEN, a range of woven, printed and embroidered Maheshwaris

With an aim to bring forth the variety in weaves and to highlight the endless possibilities of the Maheshwari handlooms, Rehwa expanded itself into home linen, creating more possibilities for weavers in Maheshwar and Chanderi .

The collection has a unique variety of sheer drapes, cushion covers, bed linen and table linen in subtle shades of white, gold and silver to vibrant reds, greens and blues, exquisitely handworked by Ashraya Niketan, Bangalore.

ABOUT REHWA SOCIETY

REHWA Society is the spearhead of progress for the handloom weavers of Maheshwar, a historic weaving centre in Central India. Founded in 1978, REHWA Society brings design and marketing skills to Maheshwari handloom weavers. Maheshwari saris were famous throughout Western India due to the patronage of the Royal House of Holkar. REHWA works towards the upliftment of its in-house weavers and the weavers of Maheshwar.

Festive range of sarees for Dushera

Celebrate this Dushera with a festive range of silk sarees from the weavers of Uppada and printed cotton sarees from Jaipur

Launching Lilaras at dāram

Lilaras is silver jewellery that is light-hearted, yet beautiful. It is playful and intense all at once. It is for that woman who is alive, beautiful and unique. Each piece is truly ethnic. Each piece has been specially handcrafted for today’s Indian woman. Lilaras seeks to keep the artisan and his art alive by keeping handcrafting alive. Drawing inspiration from nature, it tries to capture the unpretentious glory of nature in a work of art.

Ahalya, the designer, insists that jewellery should have style, substance, and soul; if it is to communicate and be relevant to the user’s life. All her jewellery is proudly hand-made by master craftsmen; so every piece she designs is authentic and precious, individual and unique. She uses her extensive knowledge of Indian jewellery as the starting point for her work, which is startlingly original and entirely attuned to evolving global aesthetics. And that is entirely in keeping with the artistic traditions of India.

Kandanghi sarees and Kottan basketry of Chettinad from MRM Cultural Foundation, Chennai

dāram presents Kottan basketry and a range of Kandanghi sarees in cotton and silk from Chettinad.

The exhibition is on at dāram from 10th September to 16th September.

The Kandanghi Sari

The Kandanghi saris are the Chettinad answer to the wastelands; the brilliant colours are the perfect foil against the monochrome landscape. The traditional colours of bright yellows, oranges, red and a minimal black are used in a pattern of stripes or checks with broad borders. Woven in coarse cotton or silk, the saris throw out the vividness of the colour.

The Kottan

The traditional Palmyra basketry of Chettinad, Kottans were once woven by the Chettinad womenfolk and was their hobby craft. Kottans found a place in every Chettinad activity, from ritual and ceremony to daily use. These baskets are gaining great popularity both as packaging for gifts as well as in a range of contemporary home accessories and even palm leaf jewellery. Experimentation in using natural dye has resulted in a whole new range of subtle earthy shades that are as exquisite as they are eco-friendly.

The M.Rm.Rm Cultural Foundation supports research and documentation of languishing crafts, textiles and architecture. The Foundation works towards empowering women through training in regional crafts.