Indian Tradition Meets Textile Innovation in Fashion Shows

Dilip Guha, New Delhi: Bharat Tex 2024, one of the largest-ever global textile events, was recently held in the capital with support from the Ministry of Textiles and organized by a consortium of 11 Textile Export Promotion Councils. The event was a unique platform to showcase India’s entire textile value chain and highlight its strengths in fashion, traditional crafts, and sustainability initiatives.

On the occasion The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) presented two fashion shows named “Earth Song” -An Exposition of Sustainable Fashion and “Fashion Luxe”- A Story of Elegance during the expo at the Open Air Amphitheatre, in Bharat Mandapam.

The fashion shows were a tapestry of Indian tradition and technology attracting the best and the brightest from the textile world. It celebrated India’s young and upcoming designers and converged at the world-class convention centre.

Their first presentation, ‘EARTH SONG’- A Showcase of Sustainable Fashion Show saw notable designers Payal Jain, Nitin Bal, Khadiwala_Ashish, Anjali Kalia, Studio Medium, Sunita Shankar, Shruti Sancheti, Anavila, Karomi Crafts, Ka-Sha, Eka, Suket Dhir, And Hemang Aggarwal come together held on second day of expo.

The event was called “Coveted Showcases” and featured presentations by renowned designers who focused on sustainable fashion. Designers were such unveiled their latest creations, showcasing a seamless blend of innovation and artisanal craftsmanship. The collection was a cohesive use of elements like earth; spice, natural dyes, and upcycled, handcrafted sustainable textiles conforming to the theme.

One can experience the newest developments in textile innovation and style that enhance fashion sense and provide the latest trends in the industry. Each thread weaves a tale of artistry and ingenuity, with vibrant colors and intricate designs.

The same is revealed while talking to young designer Ashish Satyavrat Sahu, “Khadiwala” is his brand name which is also a PMEGP unit. He studied fashion design at NIFT Gandhinagar. He started his own work after working for a few years with Ritu Kumar known for working on Indian textiles and craft

He says”We procure Khadi fabric from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) organizations and use it to design ready-made garments. For this fashion show, we have utilized Khadi denim from Gujarat, Upkar Khaddar cotton khadi from Uttar Pradesh, Tasar silk khadi, and Kora cotton khadi from Jharkhand.”

“When we think of fashion in India, Khadi comes to our mind. Using Khadi as a material for a fashion show on a platform like Bharat Tax is a great idea. Khadi is perfect for dress material as it is gentle on the skin.”

He spoke about the importance of sustainable fashion and emphasized that Khadi is a top contender for sustainable fashion. “It is not only the fabric that is sustainable but also the livelihoods of indigenous people who work in Khadi, such as spinners, weavers, and artisans in villages. The use of pure materials such as wool, cotton, silk, etc. does not harm the environment in any way.”

“Today, there is a need for sustainable fashion to be designed keeping in mind today’s fashion trends, youth, and pocket-friendly prices, our brand Khadiwala is creating sustainable fashion that is affordable, trendy, and appealing to the youth”.

Speaking on achieving the vision of ‘local for Global for textile industry’ he says “that to achieve the vision of making the Indian textile industry ‘local for global’, we must recognize and respond to global fashion trends, has to understand world fashion and trends and work keeping in mind the demography while staying true to the essence of our traditional crafts. We believe that Indian crafts such as khadi and handloom have great potential to go global, but we must find a way to commercialize them while retaining their unique character and cultural roots.”

FDCI’s second presentation, titled ‘FASHION LUXE- A Story Of Elegance, was the highlight of the next day evening. Show was the coveted showcase and presentation by visionary designers, presenting their latest couture collections; including Abhishek Gupta, Niki Mahajan, Rina Dhaka, Amit GT, Charu Parashar, Sulakshana Monga, Asma Hussain, Digvijay Singh, Asha Gautam, and Rohit Kamra. The runway extravaganza was a seamless blend of innovation and artisanal craftsmanship, showcasing unique and exquisite collections.

The Chairman of FDCI, Sunil Sethi, expressed his delight in presenting this exceptional showcase featuring renowned designers. He also thanked the textile ministry for collaborating to make this unforgettable event possible at the Bharat Mandapam Amphitheatre. According to him, the event aimed to display the remarkable growth of sustainable fashion, showcasing the evolution from conventional attire to a refreshing representation of style. All designers contributed with their unique perspectives, showcasing the journey of transformation.