Dolly Jain, Vidya Balan, Gaurang Shah and Pratiksha Prashant during the launch
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Some conversations lead to reflections on the journey so far and the road ahead. In Limitless Traditions, a coffee table book launched recently, Hyderabad-based textile designer Gaurang Shah recalls a conversation he had with a weaver in Benares.The weaver told Gaurang that the craftswomen have been working on a motif for over 300 years, with the knowledge being passed down generations. “He said, ‘you are not starting something new, but continuing it’,” he recalls. That statement made Gaurang contemplate his role, as catalyst, in helping a craft stay afloat.The limited edition coffee table book intersperses Gaurang’s journey alongside weaving traditions from different parts of India. Limitless Tradition was launched in Hyderabad amid a select gathering that included actor Vidya Balan and Dolly Jain, widely recognised for her skills in saree draping. Vidya recalled childhood memories of women in her family wearing elegant cotton saris and how she feels at home in handwoven saris during her international appearances as well. As for the book, written by Shefali Vaidya, it begins with a brief history of Indian textiles, types of weaves and surface design techniques, before discussing Gaurang’s journey.
