A Sari Story

As designer Madhu Jain completes 25 years in the industry,she presents a collection inspired by her creations over the years.

As designer Madhu Jain completes 25 years in the industry,she presents a collection inspired by her creations over the years.

Why isnt the Thai ikat sari on display at the entrance? enquires designer Madhu Jain as she walks into Ensemble,in Mumbais Fort area,on Thursday evening. This is Jains first visit to Mumbai in the last 10 years and the Delhi-based designer is unaware of how her collection will be received. This is because it will get sold in no time, says Tina Tahiliani,whose store Ensemble is retailing Retrospective by Madhu Jain,a line of clothing that represents the designers 25 years in fashion. Tahiliani isnt wrong,as the first few pieces get sold out soon after the collection opens to the public.

Tahilianis strategy thus,is to keep the collections statement pieces away from keen eyes for a few more hours,when people would come in for a preview. Jain,of course,didnt feel the same way as the sari had the story of Buddha woven into it. With motifs of a mandala and animals surrounding it,the apple-coloured sari was a masterpiece in the art of storytelling.

Story continues below this ad

Another highlight of the collection,on display at the entrance,is a salwar-kameez fabric with charcoal painted figures of Ram,Sita and Lakshman going into exile,with Telugu script woven across the cloth that describes them on their journey. The collection also includes pieces from her second label,Projekt M,in collaboration with Milind Soman.

Besides,the store has in stock another salwar-kameez fabric that depicts a Raja Ravi Varma painting,an artist from whom Jain has drawn a lot of inspiration throughout her career. Pieces such as these are what make Jain with no formal education in design a name to contend with. Be it saris,anarkalis or churidars,her consistent support of the crafts is what sets her apart in an industry that has only recently started turning to these.

Over the years,Jain has reintroduced her elite clientele to Nakshikantha,a form of quilt from Bangladesh,bamboo-based textiles and Dhaka muslin,in addition to supporting ikat and kalamkari. Im quite fortunate in this regard because my family has always supported Indian textiles,which is where my knowledge comes from, she says,adding,This collection is inspired by and represents everything I have created in the last 25 years.