Paanchali: Gaurang Shah's Trend Show for Sanskruti Ladies Club, Hyderabad

"There is a pride in the dressing traditionally"- Textile & Fashion Designer Gaurang

Gaurang Orchestrates 'Paanchali' an Indian weaves trend show in City for Sanskruti

Hyderabad, India, November 12, 2013: Award winning designer showcased a line of 50 especially handwoven saris mixing current trends with traditional patterns in a specially conceptualized show- PAANCHALI; with live music by Aarabhi violin school for Sanskruti: a ladies organization. The significance of this event is to bring attention to our traditional art know-how and showcase their creativity to the world so they get more global recognition for what they do.

In many ways, the show reaffirmed why Garuang's jamdani-inspired Indian designs are fast catching the eye of the fashion world. Models draped in a mix of hand-woven saris such as kanjeevaram, paithani, kota, patan patola, khadi, uppada, venkatgiri, showcased antique designs in contemporary textures and colour combinations, with each being a piece of art and a masterpiece designed by Gaurang who says my show is about promoting weaves inspired by our ancient heritage.

This show was presented by Sanskruti to promote the traditional Indian art of weaving. Gaurang collaborates with his team of 500 jamdani weavers' across India to develop his unique fashion line. Sanskruti, a ladies organization which commemorates its 27th year encourages fellowship among like-minded women, promotes Indian Art and Culture and also provide help to students by way of scholarships in any faculty or branch of knowledge and Fine Arts.

The patterns of movement developed and stylised by Gaurang were, in order to present the collections as an art form that is steadily captivating Fashionista's in India and world over for its richness, class and longevity. "To me fashion show is not just posing bodies or moving bodies; it is'a alisplay of art." Gaurang says. For Gaurang the main aim of a fashion show is its significance to translate Fashionista's fashion dream to reality consistently with innovation and build crave for novelty. There is a pride in the dressing traditionally for women that is what I strive for in my creations.

The label "GAURANG" personifies elegance and captivates the beauty of traditional eco-friendly hand-woven saris created using Jamdani weaving technique. Working extensively at the grass-root level with the weavers, Gaurang has adopted villages and supports more than 500 weavers all over the country. Gaurang believes that bringing back happiness in the weaver communities is the true fabric of culture and revival of tradition.

Most recently Sanskruti, started a school for the differently abled children called Sanskruti Shikhar Sanchalit Amrit - Varsha Kapadia School - at Begumpet Secunderabad. This project is aimed at helping these children become more self reliant in their day to day activities and also reach out to the parents to help them cope with their child's disabilities. The school now functions efficiently with 72 students on its roll. The Sanskruti initiatives focus on training students in music, dance, sport and fine arts. Besides, special education, personality development, behaviour pattern and vocational training form an integral part of education, with the help of a team of specialized trained teachers and member volunteers. A noon day conversation between Kumud Dharia and Renu Jivan, Lata Bhatia and Saroj Rohit, Leelam Kapadia, Ms. Veena Desai and Kokila Kadakia highlighted key aspects of Sanskruti and its vision to promote art and culture amongst growing up children.

About Textile and Fashion Designer Gaurang (www.gaurang.co) Gaurang is a weaves revivalist; he is known for his intricate designs and coftsistent ability to introduce newness in kanjeevaram, paithani, uppada, khadi, patan patola, kota, benarasi designs and bringing heritage Indian fashion classics back in vogue!

With his sheer love for the fabric of freedom, Gaurang has taken the humble khadi to a different world. Working tremendously with the fabric, he has given a huge twist to the khadi by his jamdani weaves and the fineness of the fabric. He has made_the most beautiful textures using silk, tussar, muga with the Khadi, that the fabric finds a strong space on the runway. The finest cotton of venkatgiri bearing simple checks and stripes, have now been transferred into pieces of art with his creativity flowing through the cotton with jamdani weaving. The silk of Andhra- Uppada; is also not left behind and one can find designs as complicated as a print, but which have been hand-woven.

Reviving the traditional designs like narikunjar, pan-bhat, ratan chowk, vohra gaji bhat, fulwadi-bhat, navratrta and introducing new colour combinations like ink blue, fuscia pink, parrot green, white, lime yellow, teal blue, orange, etc. Gaurang has given the Patan Patola a strong pillar on the runway.

The auspicious traditional weave from Maharashtra-Paithani, gets a notch higher and is adored not only ih the native. Getting his signature jamdani weaving technique, he creates all over jaal's and huge borders. Amalgamating his khadi yarn, with the silk and zari he craves to create an art with each saree. 9 Inspired from the temples of South-India, reviving ancient designs from the 15th and 16th century, Gaurang has brought opulence to the most famous silk of India. Creating grandeur with borders as huge as 20 inches, and texturing the fabric to make it umpteen soft, his Kanjeevaram have been a sought after world-wide.

Using his jamdani weaving technique, he has created timeless fusions and taken the Benarasi saree to new pinnacles. Texturing the organza and silks with tussar, muga he has given design inspirations from the traditional paithani, kanjeevaram to contemporary floral blooms.