Hyderabad: Visitors to a two-day fashion exhibition were treated to majestic art forms dating back to 700 years from different states. They included different clothing styles, jewellery, and décor, among others. The exhibits were creations of around 30 artists and designers.
On display were over 300 Pichwai paintings by Jaipur’s Mukul Joshi, a UNESCO gold medallist. This art form was originally used as a backdrop behind idols of deities and is now gaining popularity as wall paintings. The art form is 700 years old and Mukul is the seventh generation craftsman from the family.
“Pich means back and wai means hanging. This is from Nathdwara temple located in Udaipur. All paintings are related to lord Krishna and his surroundings like cows, Radha and trees. We generally use gold, silver and stone colours,” he said.
Speaking about ‘Dabu’ printed saris and dupattas, its artiste Vipin C. from Rajasthan, said “It is a paste of black mud mixed with natural gum and limestone. The subsequent fine paste, together with a wooden block, is used to come up with designs for saris and dupattas. White saris are transformed into dark colored ones after painstaking efforts.”
Gandhian Fab collects several khadi fabrics from different states, which are woven in different types, and are given a complete makeover.
“Contrary to the general perception of khadi dhotis and kurtas, we revamp the fabric in such a way that people of all age groups can wear it,” said Rupal F and designer Ameen F.
Vinayak Arts by Amrit Sheeroiya from Jaipur, displayed gem stone carved jewellery, which mostly had idols of gods/goddesses and animals.
“People buy such themed jewellery usually in gold and silver. I wanted to explore them in gemstones, which has turned out unique. Everything is hand crafted and we end it by polishing with diamond powder,” he said.
Laju Shuparia from Gujarat displayed Patola saris that usually take up to one year to make a sari. The combination of colors used in one sari was mind-boggling. “Patola saris from Patan, Rajkot, have been in existence for over 700 years old. They are based on a yarn tie and dye concept.”
Healing crystal stones grabbed the attention of many. Each crystal stone represented positive energy. They are also meant to be cleansed with one’s own energy with the help of agarbatti, said Ritika Bagadiya.
A pet store showcasing adorable dresses, t-shirts, bowties and fur balls also caught their attention. Meanwhile, some students from an NGO showcased their hand-made home decoration items.
