Craft canvas

Grassroot is Dongre’s latest label to get a commercial space — her eponymous label and brands AND and Global Desi are retailed through standalone as well as multi-designer stores and malls across India. The store, on Bandra’s Linking Road, reflects the brand’s theme as warli art, blocks prints and mirror work fixtures adorn the walls.

The store is home to a mix of clothing and accessories, the latter featuring silver jewellery and hand-crafted bags in suede, canvas and jute. In keeping with the brand’s theme, the various crafts sections include block prints, clamp dyes, linens and Lucknow chikankari in muted and earthy tones of beiges, greys, pinks and blues. These are presented in contemporary silhouettes — maxi dresses, loose shirts, kurtas, boxy tops and culottes and priced upwards of Rs 7,000.

A line of box clutches incorporates miniature paintings by artists in Udaipur. For the label, Dongre explains, she’s working with artisans from Varanasi and cities in Gujarat and Rajasthan. “It’s not a structured format with a fixed design concept. We first understand their capabilities and then help them with our design acumen, to churn out pieces that would appeal to the current generation,” says the designer.

A vegan, Dongre advocates eco-friendly living. She recently shifted her design headquarters to Rabale, Navi Mumbai. “It’s an eco-intelligently designed property with facility for water recycling and natural light and ventilation,” she says. She is all set to showcase Grassroot at the Winter/Festive edition of Lakme Fashion Week later this month. She has worked with weavers in Varanasi for a line for Anita Dongre Bridal, and the weaves will also find their way in the Grassroot summer collection. A smaller, second branch will open at Altamount Road in September.