Harshita Chatterjee Deshpande revisits PAITHANI- a forgotten craft of India

The collection is inspired by the temples of South India and the rule of Chola dynasty and Peshwas over the city of Tanjore. It is about a temple girl who is clothed in tradition but is a nomad at heart.  The collection revisits the ancient looms of kancheepuram to tell the story of a woman who is in search of herself. It embodies the journey of this temple girl who is on a quest to unleash the spirit within.

The core fabric is the hand woven kanjeevaram pure silk from the looms of kancheepuram in South India. We have specifically chosen to weave black and white geometric squares and checkered design to keep the tone of the collection sharp and emphasize on the contrast against the stark blacks or whites in our world. The presence of Peshwas in the city of Tanjore is represented by the layers of handwoven paithani silk in threads of gold. We have also used Chanderi silk and soy net to also add a layer of translucency.

The collection inspiration is also showered with pure white temple flowers or Mogras.  The blooming process is a symbol of the temple girl finding her open voice in the world of today . The colors are bold and the blood reds, burnt oranges,  deep purples and bright fuschias strike a contrast when put against a palette of blacks, whites and greys.