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Known for bringing luxury handloom to a global audience, Ekaya Banaras has been at the forefront of preserving the tradition of Banarasi textiles for over a decade. The much-loved label is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of its Fall/Winter 2022 collection, ‘Valley Of Flowers’. The traditional weaving technique of ‘Rangkat’ is at the heart of the collection.
The age-old handloom technique is on the verge of extinction, and the brand’s love and passion for ancient crafts serve as a vantage point for experimentation and sartorial poetry. This collection celebrates ‘Rangkat’ regalia amalgamated with ornamental Victorian motifs, rendered on multi-meena kadhwa lehengas and statement sarees in a vibrant palette of reds, pinks and mauves.
Speaking of the collection, Palak Shah, CEO at Ekaya Banaras, shares, “Only a very few weavers in Banaras can weave the magic of a true rangkat as this exquisite and time-intensive technique requires the highly specialised skill of weaving the fabric with multiple weft hues on a monochrome warp.”
The ‘Valley Of Flowers’ collection has been meticulously manufactured at Ekaya’s atelier in Banaras by the craftsmen who have been an integral part of the brand since its inception.
Each piece took 24-30 hours to craft, depending on the intricacy of the textile and the weaving technique. Aside from rangkat, this collection explores many other weaving techniques such as kadhwa, cutwork, emboss, satin tanchoi and multi-meena.
The tactile presence of the recurring motif of Victorian art jaal work is prominent across prismatic saris and freewheeling lehenga skirts. Delicious ombre hues and scalloped borders set each silhouette apart, imbuing it with the distinctively bold Ekaya signature.
On completing 10 years in the business, Shah says, “Ekaya clocking in an illustrious decade this year fills me with unparalleled joy and gratitude. Honestly, I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. It feels like we embarked on this creative journey yesterday. Having said that, there have been a lot of ups and downs, learning and unlearning. But I’m thrilled to share that Ekaya’s incredible team and I have grown and evolved with the brand over all these years by sharing our world canvas.”
She adds: “I feel fortunate to have been blessed with an excellent team and individuals who have collaborated with me. I have nothing but gratitude. I couldn’t be more grateful and happier and I don’t think there’s anything that I love more than this creative process steeped in heritage, craft and values of sustainability.”
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