Witnessed 5 days of ultimate fashion glory at Lakme Fashion Week – Winter / Festive 2011 held at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. High dose glamour with essence of business, nerve-wrecking minutes of nervousness before the shows, being surrounded by big and successful names in the fashion industry – be it models, designer, celebrities has been a superlative experience for me.
(more…)

Over the last five years, India has emerged as a promising centre in the gems and jewellery industry worldwide. Celebrating this global stature of India in the gems and jewellery industry, The India International Jewellery Week (IIJW) was organised by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), inaugrated in the presence of Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of India; along with IIJW brand ambassador, Sonam Kapoor. As well as Rajiv Jain, Chairman of GJEPC and Sanjay Kothari, GJEPC Vice Chairman at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai on 31st July. IIJW is Asia’s first jewellery week aimed at reinforcing India’s position as the global leader in jewellery design.
(more…)

What is drawn thread work?

• Threads are cut and withdrawn from the base fabric.
• Corners, with both warp & weft threads withdrawn, are filled with loop stitch, woven wheels, spiders or fans.
• Remaining loose threads formed into groups with a variety of stitches – tied together with coral stitch, wrapping or whipping, buttonhole – or covered over with darning or needle weaving.
• Generally hemstitching and/or buttonhole on edges of withdrawn threads.
• Designs – geometric.

Drawn Thread - An Example

Drawn thread work is a form of counted-thread embroidery based on removing threads from the warp and/or the weft of a piece of even weave fabric. The remaining threads are grouped or bundled together into a variety of patterns. The more elaborate styles of drawn thread work use in fact a variety of other stitches and techniques, but the drawn thread parts are their most distinctive element. It is also grouped as White work embroidery because it was traditionally done in white thread on white fabric and is often combined with other white work techniques.

(more…)

Designing a hair clip for Jodha Bai was a pleasure as I have always been an admirer of her grace and elegance. I wanted to make a head piece which would symbolize her royal and traditional taste. The colors I chose to use were mainly Red, Green and Gold. The ‘Borla’ (Gold ball) which is placed at the forehead does the needful of the significant jewellery piece of the Mughal era.

Right from the forehead to the braid, I have designed this hair clip to beautify her long beautiful hair. Two long strands of thread having a very ethnic look are attached to the clip so that they can be braided along with the hair therefore highlighting her long braid. The two patches which are placed on the top and back of the head are ornamented with Kundans of various size, shape and color to stay in sync with the kind of jewellery Jodha adorns. Gold sparkle is used to give it a zardosi look.

(more…)