Weaved into Luxury- The Splendour of Paithani

Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai, 9th to 13th October 2014

Peacocks strut around, parrots take flight and flowers bloom amongst threads of gold on the traditional Paithani sarees, that take anything from 15 days to over a year to weave. The cost varies with the intricacy, but the most expensive of the 250-odd sarees on display at the New Wave Paithani Exhibition at Ravindra Natya Mandir, costs about `2,50,000. Sannidha Bhide, the festival director, estimates that this saree took between six to eight months to weave.Just as these one-of-a-kind handloom pieces are passed down heirloom-style from generation to generation, so are the skills involved in making them. While the traditional reds, greens, blues and violets are in attendance, there are also pastels and whites. Sannidha draws our attention to a peach-hued Paithani, that she says has been created in an attempt to cater to contemporary tastes.Kick starting the 25th Anniversary of the annual New Wave Paithani Festival on 9th October, 25 girls from NGOs such as Aadhar, Sparsh and Sharaddhanand Mahilashram, did a catwalk draped in Paithani. But these are not the only weaves at the exhibition... look around and you will find Chanderi, Jamdani, Kanjeevaram, Ikat and more in the 40 stalls occupied by weavers who have travelled miles to sell their own work, businesswomen selling products on behalf of weavers and young entrepreneurs adapting old patterns to new purposes.Despite the venue's peeling paint and terrible lighting, the weaves on display are undeniably gorgeous, making this unconventional source of luxury well worth a visit.