FROM DESIGNERS LIKE Abraham & Thakore, Bailou, Pankaja and Kanelle to Manish Saksena, Soutache, Shades of India, Sasha and Eco Loom, Simply Saris is a week-long pop-up where you’ll have access to a range of pieces from across the country.We speak to a few brands that will make their debut in the city.
Studio Medium, a multi-disciplinary design studio from New Delhi brings to Chennai saris that have a combination of two techniques — hand dyeing and jamdani from Bengal. Started by Riddhi Jain in 2016, the designer specialises in dyeing techniques given that her final project after completing fashion studies at NIFT Kolkata and NID Ahmedabad, was at the National Dyeing Unit in Munnar, Kerala. “I have an in-house dyeing unit in Delhi and I also have a separate collection for naturally dyed textiles,” says Riddhi, who will bring in two collections for the pop-up. “We have Oshibana, which is inspired from flowers in the Japanese tradition and the other is a collection of jamdani and bandini techniques coming together on the same fabric.” Riddhi works with craftsmen in Kota and Benaras, and will be bringing about 30 saris. `10,500.
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Eights days and 14 hours a day — that’s how long Mumbai-based artist Yayati G takes to create one sari. These hand drawn intricate designs are done using fabric markers, after the fabric is pre-washed seven times to avoid colour bleeding. After spending more than 25 years in advertising, the designer decided to shift mediums. “I work with silk and organza, and light-coloured saris because my coloured markers are all dark shades like black, gold and bronze,” says Yayati. The designer uses motifs like fish and birds, and draws stories on these pieces, in the that someone relates to the story and they match. “No piece is similar to another,” he says, adding that he will be bringing about 15 pieces in saris, stoles and bags for the pop-up. `17,000 onwards.
At Amethyst .Till July 7.
From 11 am.