Banarasi sarees should not be kept in closet as antique: Ritu

Calling upon people to embrace their culture and heritage, acclaimed designer Ritu Kumar, who honoured the Banarasi weavers through her collection at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), said that there is nothing more precious and valuable in Indian textiles.
Titled "Varanasi Weaves", the Padma Shri winner feels that the rich handloom industry of Varanasi is the USP of India.
"Textile and handloom are the USP of our country and our fashion. This is a great platform to showcase that the Banarasi weaves are not meant to be kept in our closets as antiques but be worn as glamorous piece of clothing and that is India's couture today," said Ritu, whose show was attended by veteran actress Shabana Azmi.

The designer, however, lamented the fact that the Banarasi weaves have lost its value and charm because it has become stiff.
"Not just stiff, the Banarasi weaves have lot of designs on it and a lot of gold. If the weavers go back to doing what their ancestors did then probably they will again find a lot of takers."
Ritu's initiative to honour Banarsi weavers is supported by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to revive the handloom weaving in Varanasi.
Her longtime friend Shabana commended the designer's efforts saying, "We have been friends for a long time. I have greatly admired Ritu's work and have learnt a lot from waft and weft."

Shabana herself works very closely with weavers from Mijwan, her late father Kaifi Azmi's hometown.