SPLENDOUR OF KASHMIR’S The Heirloom Collection is not just a fresh edit. It is rather a collection of handcrafted art pieces, and true to its name, can be passed from one generation to another like an heirloom.
One of the premium handcrafted shawls from the repertoire of Varuna Anand, owner of Splendour of Kashmir, the collection is made up of a delicate fibre namely Pashmina and the creation of these shawls are an example of ultimate skill and artistry. You can find the ethereal and classic Kani and Jamwar shawls in this edit. Giving us more detail on the two variants, Anand, who started the company in 2011 in Jammu & Kashmir and who informs us that the label has been the dream project of her late husband, says, “The Kani Shawl refers to a particular type of shawl that is woven using numerous eyeless wooden spokes in place of a shuttle. These spokes are traditionally called Tuji’s or Kanis, meaning eyeless in the Kashmiri language. Jamavar, on the other hand, dates back to the 18th and 19th century and over the years the master craftsmen have evolved various new techniques to recreate each piece with an inimitable delicacy of warp and weft.”
Giving away trivia about Jamavar shawls, Anand shares, “An extensively embroidered Jamavar can only be created on a 220 gram pashmina shawl, which is referred to as tafta. If the shawl is light in weight it will be too fragile to hold the weight of the extensive embroidery.” We also learnt that depending on the embroidery, a Jamavar shawl can take one to two years to complete, while a Kani shawl can take 9 to 15 months.
Moving away from sober shades and classic tones of black and red, one can find plenty of colours to match your attire. From a multicolour canvas with traditional geometric motifs to dreamy floral designs, the collection will match all moods. Forty-nine-year-old Varuna who holds a diploma in Textile Design from New Delhi Polytechnic, banks on her online modules and exhibitions for sales. Price on request.