News
Varanasi Weavers in Paris
Ethical Fashion Show, Paris (9-12 September)
This fashion show has been the culmination of all efforts and collaboration. The launching collection was shown and the project was presented. Both have received extremely positive feedback and project has been now placed on an international forum due to this exposure. Companies, industry associates and designers have offered to collaborate with the weavers and many people have been moved by the project. We are in touch with the interested individuals and companies. Feedback received has shown us that our weavers now have the potential (with direction from the right creative source) to move beyond their village into the global textile and fashion market.
A Report - October 08
Today the project stands at 60 weavers and 90 women who are involved in making buttons
Social Development in Villages
Development at Skill level
• Weavers are being trained for fine weaving and technical understanding of weaving.
• Women have been motivated to move out of their houses and join the men in the work sphere. About 90 women have received training in making the traditional Varanasi Buttons. These buttons has a marketing potential of their own and the women have progressed to a higher level of craftsmanship at making these buttons. Women have are also being trained as weavers.
• For personal skill development, weavers and the women are given opportunities to attend trainings (both in house and outside) and exposure visits. In this way, two weavers have attended a CCI exhibition where their high participation and learning were appreciated. It was the first time that they had been outside Varanasi and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Development at Personal level
• SHGs have been formed with weavers and well as the women’s groups.
• Male weavers have been getting counseling about their health and habits.
Development at Community level
• In this journey of approximately one year of the project, to support weavers from every corner other activities of development like providing solar lamps to weavers, putting hand pump in their village and organizing Health Camps for weavers and their families were also done.
• Both women and weavers are organized now and they conduct their monthly meeting on time and do critical analysis on their points with positive attitude.
Product Development
The outcome of the project is a collection of textiles, ensembles and accessories that have been developed with the weavers in collaboration with many designers.
Textiles: With modern research we have been able to update the Varanasi silk. These products are now easier to maintain and handle as they can be machine washed and are dyed in fast colors. The motifs are inspired by traditional aesthetics coupled with contemporary trends. These textiles have worked on by in house Upasana designers.
The Launching collection: In collaboration with design students from NIFT and other professional designers from across India, a range of ensembles have been designed using the new collection of textiles and Varanasi buttons. The collection is inspired by the elegant wardrobe of the traditional Indian royalty. Building on layers of light, shimmering silk the ensembles culminate into modern attire. Simple lines combined in unique styles bring out the gorgeous Varanasi silk woven by the revived weavers.
Scarves: Capturing the translucent delight of the traditional Varanasi Sari are the scarves. Light, wearable and chic, these scarves have been designed keeping in mind the uniqueness of the handloom.
Varanasi Buttons: An old and lost craft has been revived, that of the beautiful Varanasi Buttons. The women from the weavers’ communities have been trained in this product and they are now earning members of their family alongside the men. These buttons are more than fasteners and can also be used as embellishments.
Communication Design
Varanasi Weavers catalogue: that presents the current launching collection and scarves.
Varanasi textiles swatch book: this has been specifically developed for designers, buyers and organization and contains the contemporary range of textiles that have been developed.
Website: the site contains all information and photographs and is an online portal for the project.
Presentation, booklet and DVD: – this has been developed as a communication package to be able to give presentations in exhibitions, conferences, seminars, etc.
Networking and Marketing
The project has transcended domestic borders and has been placed in the global market thanks to exposures in the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris. Presentations made in UNESCO, Paris and similar forums are giving valuable feedback. More and more people are becoming aware of the project and our concept of Socially Responsible Design through such interactions.
VW in Unesco, Paris
UNESCO, Paris (September)
There was an event held on the UNESCO campus in Paris to celebrate Auroville’s 40th Birthday. Upasana presented the Varanasi weavers project their and we received great appreciation.
