Marking his solo debut in the national Capital, textile revivalist and conservationist designer Sailesh Singhania exhibited his exquisite collection of handwoven sarees painstakingly crafted by clusters of weavers from different parts of the country. Held at The Claridges Hotel, New Delhi, the exhibition titled Shaahana also featured luxe jewels from the house of Apala by Sumit.
Sailesh’s collection features a combination of age-old techniques like the Jamdani, combining it with Khadi, the fabric of our nation and embellishing it with intricate motifs inspired by modern Japanese art, thereby bringing a plethora of cultures and traditions together and culminating them into one final creation. Comprising opulent whites and enigmatic gold threads, each saree was woven painstakingly over a laborious period of over 8 months to match the unparalleled beauty of our muse. The royal Banarasi silk, is assiduously woven with motifs inspired by the sun and the moon, the natural forces upon which life sustains and society thrives. The motifs embody nature and its interaction with the human race, like an orchestrated symphony of life in the weave. The colours are a celebration of summer freshness, a coalescence of opulent whites and neutral tones intertwined with enigmatic gold threads.The Kanjeevaram silk sarees, that have remained a constant in every closet since the Chola and Pallava dynasty, are also revisited through this collection, celebrating the identity of the fabric with a modern outlook, tapping into its potential without tampering with its ethnicity.
“We have brought Delhi a collection of heritage handloom sarees, revived from the era of the Nizam’s exalted dynasties. Our label celebrates the glory of Indian textiles such as Paithani’s, PatanPatola’s, tissue Kanjeevarams and Khadi Jamdani. I am humbled to be a part of the weaving community which carries such a rich and artistic history,” says Sailesh Singhania.
Another attraction of the exhibit, the unique creations by Apala are appreciated by jewellery aficionados, patronised by who’s who and have been adorned by celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vidya Balan, Sunny Leone, Taapsee Pannu, Shraddha Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan and other glamorous stars.
Sumit reveals, “Creating jewellery is my prayer, an ultimate joy, and my connect with Nature and God. It’s a pleasure to showcase along with Sailesh, the melange’ of our aesthetics would be of interest to the fashion mavericks, artists, brides to be, serenely graceful and the intellectuals.”
Apala by Sumit has got something exquisite for everyone under one roof. Apala’s original jewellery style perfectly bridges the antique, royal, traditional, tribal & spiritual elements with modern sensibilities. The range includes Polki, Victorian and fine silver jewellery aesthetically combined with precious and semi-precious hand-carved gemstones.