Patchwork, khadi and silk feature in Indigene’s new collection ‘Something old, Something new’ that is all set to be displayed tomorrow at the Ambara store.
This is a part of Indigene’s fall-winter collection which covers a spectrum of winter shades from khakis to blue-blacks with a pop of red.
“It is called Something old, Something new because we have done some pieces in patchwork to recycle our fabric waste. We also have garments in fresh fabrics. Our look, as always, is casual and easy-to-wear. We like to do etching and texturing, which are elements that highlight this collection,” says Jaya Bhatt, co-founder of the label, with Ruchi Tripathi. “We usually have prints, but this collection is not print-strong,” she adds.
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The collection is in-line with their practises of sustainability as the garment passes through the hands of various artisan communities. “We also work with women’s groups in Delhi for embroidery and stitching. We work with them at a local set-up, many of the women work from home. We don’t have a factory set-up,” explains Jaya.
Keeping in mind that the textile industry is also one of the most polluting, they have been reusing fabrics for the past two seasons. “We would like to keep this going with classic pieces from this collection every year. Our fabrics are all hand-spun or handwoven. We also incorporate some natural dyes.”
The pieces themselves are meant to be relaxed and can be multi-purpose or interchangeable. “A shirt can be made into a jacket or a dress. Matched pieces such as a dress and a jacket can be worn individually or paired with other garments. If you are going to spend money on a garment, you may as well buy something that offers the value of many outfits in one.”
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Ambara will also be hosting another ethically conscious label — Pure Ghee — started by Aditi Prakash in 2010. Inspired by the colours and textiles of India, the accessory brand takes its name from a tin of home-made ghee, gifted to Aditi by a craftsman. Pure Ghee is known for its signature collection of textile bags.
“This collection features a mix of weaves. We make sturdy, well-finished textile bags, meant for daily use. The bags last a long time. People generally have this impression that textile bags are decorative. Our focus is to make textile bags which provide the same strength as a leather bag but are light,” explains Aditi.
The collection, she explains, is also a blend of functional and evening bags, in winter shades such as indigo, rust red and black. “Through we usually work with bright colours, this collection features earthy tones to match winter colours and with Indigene’s collection. Our evening bags are made with mushroo and Chanderi silks, with 3-D flower embellishments. Another of our signatures are the little charms made by the women groups we support around our studio, again made from waste fabrics,” says Aditi.
Pure Ghee’s designs are contemporary with a design aesthetic, that Aditi says, the new generation of working women would be able to appreciate. The bags are also washable.
Labels Indigene and Pure Ghee will present their collections at Ambara, 22, Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, Ulsoor until January 13. For details, call 25575196 or 9845199896.