Lakme Fashion Week to 'Re-invent Banaras'

Organisers of the Lakme Fashion Week announced the launch of their initiative titled 'Re-invent Banaras' for the revival of Banaras handlooms along with designer-politician Shaina NC here on Wednesday.

Designers Krishna Mehta, Shruti Sancheti and textile designer Hemang Agrawal were present at the event.

Contributing to the initiative, ace designer Ritu Kumar revealed some significant looks from her 'Varanasi Weaves' collection, that will be showcased at the Indian Handlooms and Textiles Day, Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 on August 27.

The Indian Handloom and Textile Day at the fashion gala will celebrate the rich heritage of handwoven luxury every season.

Shaina NC will be also be curating a special exhibition at Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum for Lakme Fashion Week.

The exhibit will showcase the works of fashion designers like Ritu Kumar, Anita Dongre, Ritu Beri, Gaurav Gupta, Varun Bahl, Rina Dhaka and Krishna Mehta, on a single platform.

This is part of a nationwide campaign, led by Shaina NC, focussed to uplift the Banaras handloom industry, part of the 'Make In India' initiative supported by the ministry of textiles, Government of India.

"With Indian Textile Day, our aim is to provide a platform to showcase the variety and vibrancy of Indian weaves and highlight Indian crafts to a global and young audience. We are delighted to announce that this special edition of Indian Textile Day will revive, uplift and reinvent Banaras handlooms in partnership with India's leading designers.

"'Reinvent Banaras' will showcase the magic of Banaras handlooms on the ramp and we plan to put the focus back on Banaras handlooms through exhibitions, fashion films, demonstrations and panel discussions," Saket Dhankar, vice president and head - fashion, IMG Reliance Ltd, said in a statement.

Purnima Lamba, head of innovations, Lakme India, shared that this season, on the Indian Textile Day at Lakme Fashion Week, they look forward to extend support and encouragement to the "talented craftsmen of the country by launching a design movement".

Shaina NC, who is spearheading the initiative, said that the entire initiative of reviving Indian textiles is more of a way to giving back to society, where designers give back to the artisans "who have woven and created the most beautiful textile".