Ekaya's new collaboration to show Benarasi craftsmanship

Parsi heritage and Benaras craftsmanship will come under one roof at Ekaya, a bespoke store presenting curated hand-crafted collections.

Bharat Shah, founder of Ekaya, will present a new narrative for the season showcasing the best of Benarasi craftsmanship.

Under his label Ekaya, Bharat has invited designer Ashdeen Lilaowalia to make Benaras his playground and marry it with his Parsi roots to create a new global aesthetic which is beyond cultural boundaries without compromising on authenticity, said a statement.

Titled Ziba, the new collaborated line comprises saris, yardage, dupattas and lehengas. The range will be launched at Bikaner House with a special exhibit on Friday.

"Collaborating with Ashdeen has been an interesting project for us. Ashdeen, with his expertise in Parsi gara embroidery, has been able to sensitively evoke the traditional Parsi aesthetic of garas and kors (borders) in the woven collection and we have been able to use his strengths with our strengths successfully.

"Peacocks and exotic birds of paradise, entwine themselves with chrysanthemums, peonies and Chinese roses to create a unique Oriental-Benarasi narrative," Palak Shah, CEO of the brand and daughter of Bharat, told IANS.

Palak also said that Benaras is an evergreen project and there is huge scope in the market for Benarasi craftsmanship.

"Partly yes, as today we have more of masses who are educated about weaving, but this movement had picked up before he came. The younger generation is looking for more meaningful pieces in their wardrobe which has more impact.

"Benaras is an evergreen product and there is a splurge of awareness in the market about how special this product is," Palak said.

--IANS

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