Fashion in the Cottage

Walk into the Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath,and you’ll find yourself right in the middle of exotic India. All around are positioned gleaming metallic statues of gods and goddesses,intricately designed furnishings and handicraft. Tucked in a dimly lit corner,amid the displays,is a small sign that says ‘FDCI’. This is the section where the Emporium’s famous handloom collection makes way for designer-wear. On Sunday,the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) introduced collections by Rohit Bal and Anju Modi to Cottage Industries,the first time that designers are showcasing at this lifestyle address. The exhibition is titled “Sarang”.

The first look,however,is disappointing. Garments by Bal and Modi are suspended on long dark poles,looking sombre and even out of place. The theme of the collections is the monsoon and the peacock,but Rohit Bal’s “collection” of three garments is in earthy muted colours. Two kurtas are in anarkali-style and the third is a dark grey quilted design. The fabrics are handwoven chanderi silk and cotton. An artwork featuring a peacock also forms a part of his display.

Modi’s collection,on other hand,features five kurtas and a sari. Mostly in red and white,she has also used the peacock motif in her works.

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“This exhibition is the outcome of talks that we have had with the Cottage Emporium over seevral weeks,” says FDCI President Sunil Sethi,“The beginning is humble,but we have plans to expand the fashion designers’ role in this initiative.” He adds that FDCI plans to display collections by five designers on a rotational basis in future.

Ask about his limited collection,and Bal says,“This is merely the tip of the iceberg. This collection was put together in a short period of time and,looking at the limited space we’ve secured at the Emporium,I think this is all we could have displayed.”

Sethi says that they were “in talks with the Emporium to obtain a permanent place for FDCI to display designer garments”.

The garments are priced upward Rs 25,000. “We can’t sell the garments as long as they are on display. If a customer is interested,he can place an order with us,” says Bal.

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The exhibition will be on till July 16 at Central Cottage Industries Emporium