Fashion tourism on the horizon

The world of intricate designs, delicate crafts and beautiful weaves and textiles will see a touch of restoration, if designer Deepika Govind’s dream sees the light of the day.

The fashion expert has been working very quietly to set up a textile and crafts village in northern Karnataka, a 12-hour drive from Bangalore that hopes to revive a dying form of textile craft, while promoting tourism.

The crafts village aims to give people the chance to spend time with craftsmen, while understanding the complex world of design and crafts. The aim, the designer says, is to also make an existing village of craftsmen self-sufficient by giving them a platform to showcase their talent and curb migration to cities, which, in turn, leads to overcrowding and increasing the poverty population in urban spaces. “I want to give them a life of dignity and a means to an alternative profession, when farming takes a backseat,” she offers.

The low-profile Deepika is however reluctant to divulge too many details, as the entire project is in the planning pipeline and the details are still being worked out. But she pins her hopes that her idea will take flight by the end of 2011. “I am trying to work things out with a lot of stake holders but it’s a long process. However, if things don’t quite fall into place, I will try and make a small start from my end at least,” she confides.

Deepika, who started her fashion career in 1997, after shifting her focus from pursuing a career in the civil services, is known for her work on fabric development and annually launches unique textiles, experimenting with weaves. An ikat specialist, she has worked on developing new techniques, emphasising on eco-friendly process, yet keeping her creations classic.