For two days, Chennai will play host to India’s vast textile heritage to commemorate Handloom Day (August 7) by turning MRC Centre into a showcase of diverse handcrafts from across the country. . From resist-dyeing techniques of bandhani and leheriya to the stitches of kantha and the geometric precision of ikat, the Crafts Council of India (CCI) is bringing together artisans, designers, and techniques that have kept these traditions alive for generations.Spread across 39 stalls, the exhibition will showcase an array of saris, garments, and handcrafted fabrics, offering visitors a closer look at the people and stories behind the creations.
Weavers Studio dyeing
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For Darshan Mekani Shah, founder, Weavers Studio from West Bengal, the showcase is an opportunity to bring Bengal’s rich textile vocabulary to Chennai, with a collection that moves between the traditional and contemporary. Her edit for the exhibition will feature hand-spun and handwoven textiles in khadi, cotton, linen and eri silk alongside Bengal’s gamcha and jamdani traditions. The collection will also include Tangail, garod, and Begampuri weaves, paired with vintage-inspired blouses, contemporary drapes, and traditional block prints drawn from Weaver’s Studio’s archive of local motifs. The garments range from easy tunics, kaftans, open jackets and co-ord sets to shirts, semi-stitched garments and unstitched sets. “We wanted to focus on Bengal’s woven textiles, but also bring in some of the techniques and motifs that we haven’t used for a long time,” says Darshan. She is also introducing a small collection of accessories made entirely from leftover fabrics. Batwas and smaller bags have been created from the remnants from the khadi, indigo shibori, and block printing collections. “We’ve always worked with textiles and readymades, but we started thinking about what happens to the fabric left over when we cut a garment. Instead of creating waste, we wanted to turn it into something useful,” she says.
