Kanakavalli comes to the city for a weekend pop-up 

Kanakavalli comes to the city for a weekend pop-up 

Expect bridal Kanjeevarams with a twist and thread-on-thread silk saris

Browsing through Chennai-based label, Kanakavalli’s saris is not unlike looking into your grandmother’s heavy teak cupboard holding racks of neatly folded traditional Kanjeevarams. Only, at Kanakavalli, the colours are a delightful mix of bright pinks, sombre greens, cool blues and vibrant reds — unconventional shades that are hard to come by. This weekend, curator of the brand, Ahalya Sakthivel comes to the city for a three-day pop-up.


Boasting handpicked pieces from weavers in the region and Ahalya’s own designs, the collection will include bridal saris and a selection of fabrics meant for blouses, for those who want to experiment. “Of course, the saris come with blouse pieces attached, but I find that it’s far more interesting to play with different textures. So expect tussar, Benarasi, silk cotton and raw silk fabrics to mix and match with the saris,” explains Ahalya. 


The traditional araku (deep red) shade typically used for bridal Kanjeevarams has been passed up for unorthodox burnt orange, mustard, tangerine, magenta, aubergine, canary and emerald hues. The motifs employed, as usual, range from animals to florals that are uncommon but traditional, nonetheless. “I’ve always aimed at presenting the Kanjee-varam in a traditional format but with a contemporary colour story and that is evident in this collection,” says Ahalya. Apart from bridal wear and fabrics, also expect a range of thread-on-thread saris, which Ahalya explains have no zari. “They are lighter and less dressy, for those who want to keep it simple,” she adds. 

Rs 900 upwards. April 7-9. At Raintree, Sankey Road. Details: 8754448349

 

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