Odisha designers give homespun handloom a new spin

Bhubaneswar: One of the richest aspects of Odisha is in what the weavers create from the yarns. The colourful threads transformed into pieces of cloth that people drape with so much grace, are now being given a contemporary twist by designers of the state.

Odisha Sun Times has come up with a list of Odia designers, who are working on, reviving and promoting the rich textile tradition of this coastal Indian state.

Rashmi Mohapatra

To promote Odisha handloom at national and international level, Rashmi started her own brand, ‘Raas’ in 2013. She works on contemporary designs that are both easy to wear and comfortable. “It is for those who wish to wear handloom but not traditional clothes,” she said.

Ikkat and Bomkai rule her work and the fabrics include mulberry cotton/silk and Sambalpuri textiles. This March, she will showcase her season wear, Ikat garments and sarees at Odisha Parba in New Delhi.

“Also on display will be exclusive work of our weavers from Sonepur, Nuapatna and Bargarh,” she added.

Jyoshna Das

Her design studio, Bivabari, took shape last year with a myriad of concepts and designs focusing on Indian textiles.

Her work includes creations in Ikat, Kalamkari, appliqué work, Pattachitra and tribal painting. She procures fabrics from Nuapatna, Gopalpur, Barpali and Balangir in Odisha.

Jyoshna also digs into textiles of Jaipur, Hyderabad and Tirupati to give the clothes a pan-Indian feel. She designs mostly for middle-aged women who look for comfort in clothes.

Reemly Mohanty

The label Reemly’s Design Studio came into being in 2016. “I love Odisha handloom. Since the very beginning, my focus has been on creating something new and interesting with the fabrics,” she said.

She designs Indo-western dresses with comfortable cuts, giving a contemporary twist to the fabrics. “I work on the designs only after understanding my clients and what they can carry off gracefully,” she added.

Reemly will soon put up her handloom and bridal collection on display at a show she is planning to organize.

Swikruti Pradhan

Working under the label ‘Rustic Hue’, Swikruti’s designs are inspired by nature and ancient architecture. From Bomkai to Ikat, she uses traditional techniques while giving a modern twist to the textiles of Odisha. She coordinates with the artisans of western Odisha for the designs.

The young designer is also working as a design consultant for a handloom cluster project of Ministry of Textiles. Designing a saree for Bollywood actress Tisca Chopra proved to be a milestone for her.

She also runs ‘Rustic Hue Jugaad’, following a zero-waste policy and creating accessories from leftover fabrics.