A paean to the heritage textile crafts of India, the 13th edition of Nayaab — a retrospective that will make its way to Chennai on October 3 — puts the spotlight on dyeing, printing and weaving techniques like shibori, bandhini, jamdani and kalamkaari. This time, the two-day exhibit brings 23 brands to the Welcomhotel By ITC, Cathedral Road. “We have always kept the exhibit small and intimate while focussing on natural fabrics; that remains our priority this year too.
However, there are new additions, like an installation at the exhibition,” says textile revivalist Rupa Sood, who is also the founder of Nayaab. Kalamkari by Kalam Shastra| Photo Credit:Special arrangement The exhibition will feature brands that Nayaab has shared a long association with, alongside new brands, which, Rupa says, show contemporary designs interpreted with indigenous textiles and revived with techniques that are fading away. “We also like to rope in brands who are working with communities of craftspeople.
We have been working with Urvashi Kaur, EKA, Taika, Kora, Sartorial, Weavers Studio and Divya Sheth from our early days. Ka-Sha, Kalam Shastra, Ode to Odd, Aikeyah, Urbania Jaipur, Moksh, Soham Dave and Naari Shakti are new additions,” says Rupa. A design by Ka-Sha| Photo Credit:Special arrangement On the first day, the exhibition will host a talk on the topic, Transforming: Cosmopolitan Textiles, by Ritu Sethi — the founder-trustee of the Craft Revival Trust and editor of Global InCH.