fashion, design and old world charm
A drape from my mother’s closet, this delicate white on black features lucknowi chikankari work – how beautiful a process to imagine, that these delicate motifs were worked on at the back of the sheer georgette to reveal the design on the front face of the fabric with absolute finesse. Here’s a closer look at the detail and stitches used;
I’m going to be talking about two traditional chikan work stitch styles seen in this saree, so here goes…
Aina Mahal, Bhuj. A breathtaking picture of ruins in restoration, these stunningly hand carved trefoil lattices are one face of the palace complex that survived the ravages of the earthquake and represent rich intricate geometric patterns adorning the viewing galleries – a signature of islamic architecture of the time. These patterns, when observed closely, will resonate with a viewer familiar with Ajrak, and this indeed is one of the inspirations behind the motifs and print repeats of the traditional form … Read Full
I’ve been on the Elanic community since the past year, and apart from making quite a lot of money from it, it’s taught me an important aspect of sustainability, resourceful consumerism and minimum waste that has changed the way I view my wardrobe and shop for fashion pieces.
… Read FullWe are all somewhat guilty of buying things we never really use, and with the amount of waste piling up our landfills, the need of the hour is to put our belongings
Is this the best diwali ever?
It took me a long, long time and plenty of devotion to reach an organic, unsponsored, loving and positive, authentic, content driven 1k on Instagram
and I’m going to be extra af to celebrate this milestone because the journey to have an impact has impacted my life in a huge way!
Thank you, to all wonderful souls that paused to appreciate what I do
For every “You rock the saree” that replaced “Omg why … Read Full
Everyone wants a piece of the whole gingham and checks hullaboo across runways, designers and department stores! Well, Indian Handlooms have been there and been doing that since a long time now, and what a cool, comfortable drape the gamcha check is!
Gamcha – a word often associated with towels – is a handloom textile woven in north eastern India. Thrown on the shoulder, wrapped around the head or waist, the cotton cloth with a mix of checks and stripes, … Read Full
… Read FullUpcycling simply means
I own and have accumulated probably as many as thirty pairs of jeans, being that annoying girl that eats a lot but never gets fat, still wearing the same waist size from high school. And I also own as many mass fashion Forever 21, Zara, or H&M denims as any of you. Then, doesn’t that make me a hypocrite for all the talk of being sustainable, turning to handlooms and handcrafted, and so on?
Lets face it, not all of … Read Full
This picture is ironic on many, many levels.
What it’s called on the package: carmine, crimson lake, carmine lake, cochineal, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, E120
What it actually is: Carmine is a red pigment made from crushing female cochineal beetles, and it reportedly takes 70,000 dead insects to make one pound of red dye. Helps to achieve red shades in make up.
Where it may be lurking: makeup, particularly in red lipsticks, blushers and nailpaint.
A shocking list of … Read Full
I’ve stumbled upon treasure for crafty, eco-fashion loving designers, artists and hobby enthusiasts! KnitSilk.com and their page on Elanic now sell beautifully textured handspun saree silk yarn, and it’s perfect for all kinds of knitting, crochet, decorative and jewellery projects. Here’s what it’s all about;
… Read FullThis yarn is also known as the Himalayan Sari Silk Yarn made from Sari Silk Fiber. During the making of Saris in India, a lot of small finer threads of various colours are left over