LFW 2025, Day 3: Kutch artisans blend tradition with contemporary aesthetics

Five artisans from Kutch showcased their creations in a show presented by Somaiya Kala Vidya at Lakmeacute Fashion Week X FDCI on FridayThe creations reflected their expertise in Ajrakh print Mashru weave and Bandhani and Batik crafts Poetic commentary and the beat of live Kutchi music elevated the show as models walked down the rampWith Ajrakh as the centre of attraction Zaid Khatrirsquos lsquoEternal Ajrakhrsquo collection from his label lsquoAjrakh Gharanarsquo was a journey from the past to the present and then into the futureCollection by Zaid KhatriZaid stated ldquoFor me Ajrakh is not just a print it is a legacy that transcends time This is the very craft that was embraced by the Indus Valley Civilisation and is cherished even today with pride Yet one question has always stayed with memdashcan tradition and modernity coexist Can Ajrakh which is eternal also become a symbol of contemporary identityrdquoThe collection combined traditional block printing with new silhouettes and modern designsNext Amruta Vankarrsquos collection featured the craft of expert weaving for her label lsquoAlaicharsquo Alaicha which means Mashru in Kutchi is an intricate weave popular for centuries The distinct dotted pattern was the highlight of the weave which has been a favourite for the ghagras and saris of the Ahir and Rabari women in KutchCollection by Amruta VankarTalking about the creations Amruta shared After my education in design and learning to stay true to my craft I realised that Mashru weaving is more than a craft ndash its a cultural identity intricately woven into fabric Through innovative silhouettes minimalist aesthetics and a refined colour palette Ive reinterpreted Mashru into bold stylish designs for the showcaserdquoConcentrating on Ajrakh artisan Mubbasirah Khatri designed the lsquoAnatomyrsquo collection for the label lsquoElysianrsquo Going for an earthy palette of blue black red offwhite and khaki ndash popular colours in traditional Ajrakh work ndash the designer worked with abstract patterns that aligned with the design philosophyCollection by Mubbasirah KhatriSharing the inspiration behind her collection Mubbasirah said ldquoI am inspired by nature This time I wanted to do something different yet stay connected to nature so I chose AnatomyrdquoUsing Bandhani as the core craft artisan Muskan Khatrirsquos collection titled lsquoMysteryrsquo for the label lsquoMuskrsquo was inspired by the galaxy The dark and neon shades were aimed at symbolising the luminous beauty that was scattered through the universe The meticulously designed motifs and patterns were inspired by celestial formations and abstract elements of the cosmosCollection by Muskan KhatrildquoMy collection expresses the magic and vastness of the universe through Tie and Dyerdquo Muskan saidThen the beauty of the traditional Batik craft was unveiled on the ramp by Shakil Ahmedrsquos label lsquoNeel Batikrsquo through a collection titled lsquoTradition to ModernrsquoThe designer stated ldquoThe idea behind my collection was to blend traditional batik with modern aestheticsrdquoCollection by Shakil AhmedPresenting a meacutelange of silhouettes and styles Shakil created four sets of Indian and western garments Saris were the focal point of the Indian offering while the western designs brought an Indofusion cultural appealAlso ReadLakmeacute Fashion Week 2025 Dates designers and everything you need to know