The true art of indigenous designers escapes our minds when we get too consumed with contemporary fashion. Let’s visit some ensembles created by indigenous designers and support our local artists.
Let’s celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People while we learn about their art and fashion. The indigenous designers of India deserve as much respect as the headlining designers do. After all, the craft we receive in regional ensembles and jewellery has emerged from them. Most artwork and fashion designs that the modern bride adorns have hints of indigenous patterns and folktales that drape throughout her outfit. Let’s look at some artists who prove that the indigenous craft is indeed timeless.
Uru Maku
The revival of Northeastern and Western craft in India, Manjushree Saikia, was introduced to fashion through the introduction of various textiles from her culture. With its timeless silhouettes and sustainability model, Uru Maku is a brand that defies trends. The brand’s debut in Lakme Fashion Week 2019 set a tone for sustainable handmade artisanal work in the entire fashion industry.
Vaishali S
The brand Vaishali S Studio recently showcased its fall/winter collection at Paris Haute Couture Week 2024. The brand celebrates the gorgeous art of authentic hand-woven textiles, from Chanderi Silk to Khunn, a Karnataka native weave. This indigenous craft was preserved by Vaishali, as the craft demonstrates rich tales of India’s heritage. Their latest collection, Satori, takes the audience on a journey through the rich sartorial heritage of Indian culture. She created some beautiful ensembles that were nothing less than an enlightening artistic illusion.
Oushk
Oushk is a brand created by Ussama Shabbir. They debuted their line at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2021 and showcased incredible collections every year after that. The brand values traditions and hopes to keep them alive through the art of artistic textiles. They work with batik, ikat, and hand-discharged painting, which is an art famous in the Phulia district of West Bengal. The brand combines traditional textiles and artwork with modern silhouettes to create fashion that is truly sustainable and timeless.
Read Also: Celebrating National Handloom Day: Heritage in Bridal Wear
IKAI By Ragini Ahuja
The designs created by this brand are as beautiful as the story behind them. The brand was created by Ragini Ahuja to translate the values of ‘Ikai’ (meaning ‘one’ in Hindi), fierce femininity, empowerment, and self-expression. Ikai is a global brand created by Ragini Ahuja that has won awards at esteemed fashion shows like “London Fashion Week’ in 2017. Ikai combines textiles and artisans from India and engineers them into handmade and sustainable ensembles.
Ka-Sha
The team at Ka-Sha ensures to represent their art through their handicrafts. Each piece is created with indigenous textiles and surface treatments. The end product is wearable clothing that appeals to people all around the world, with roots in India and a global narrative. They upcycle, recycle, mend, and repair garments and fabrics of all shapes and sizes, combining traditional craft processes with innovative ideas.
Tega Collective
A brand by Niha Ulety, the brand is continually influenced by Adivasi art from all over India. Each collection’s designs are co-created with a unique Adivasi culture, emphasising their traditional colours, patterns, and natural symbols. All of our items embrace and enhance people of all genders and sizes. A great initiative was taken by Niha Ulety; she overtook the challenge of combining ancestral knowledge and culture while striving for sustainability in her fashion brand. So far, she has done an incredible job of representing the communities through various collections.
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Supporting local artists from India and celebrating their art should be our main aim on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. However, we should always make it a habit to appreciate the excellence of Indian heritage while making a conscious choice of choosing these designers for our next shopping spree. Wedding Affair believes in the gorgeous art of the local artisans in India and supports their futuristic artisanal work.
