Women Artisans Rock The Ramp at Lakme Fashion Week

Breaking stereotypse in the fashion world, Lakme Fashion Week Summer-Resort 2018 on Friday saw a splash of sustainable fashion with their original stars -- women artisans -- walking the ramp demystifying the so-called glamour scene.

Defying the norms here, as part of the project, women artisans from Rajasthan, Bengal, Gujarat and Puducherry showcased their skills to designer labels, backed by Usha International. The Usha Silai project is one of a kind initiative which vouches for the necessity of saving the fashion industry from commercial giants.

These desi artisans were cheered on for their courageous walk on the ramp that traditionally belongs to the models.

For the last couple of years, sustainable clothes earned special attention among designers. Their most integral work has time-to-time been applauded and viewed beyond commercial benefit.

Jaspreet Chandok, Head of Fashion, IMG Reliance, termed it as a “powerful narrative of empowerment and inclusivity”, iDiva reported.

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He also talked about bringing out the locals at large saying, “It establishes the principle that for Indian fashion to be forward, it needs to think local and leverage human potential at the grass root level for the development of a sustainable livelihood.”

A total of four designers were chosen to represent their collections in this unique initiative. Soham Dave collaborated with the Dholka cluster in Gujarat, showcasing the brand’s sewing machine – focused on simple stitching techniques. Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav sided with the Kaladhera cluster in Rajasthan. Also, they showcased traditional skirts, kanjri-inspired tops and fluid dresses. And Sayantan Sarkar partnered with 24 South Parganas, Mastikari cluster, presenting mainly on prints; while Sreejith Jeevan brought out the best of Puducherry cluster.

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At the end, we had the rare sight of women artisans taking the ramp in style.

Feature Image Credit: iDiva

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