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Bengal's Baluchori to traverse from sarees to gowns
13 Apr '12
2 min read
Baluchori, the traditional handwoven silk and cotton sarees from Bengal, known for their motifs and designs from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, will now be transformed into modern Baluchori outfits, including skirts, dresses and gowns, thanks to an initiative of the government of West Bengal, an eastern Indian state.
The government of West Bengal has approved a project for modernization of the state's textiles and has roped in fashion designer Agnimitra Paul for the same.
Speaking to fibre2fashion, Ms. Agnimitra Paul, revealed, “I was asked to do something with Baluchori sarees by Manas Bhunia, Minister for Small & Micro Industries and Textile, Government of West Bengal. He wanted me to do some work where we can change the look of Bengal handloom and make it more modernized and more marketable.”
“Based on a report submitted by me, the textile department has given a green signal for the project. I will be working hand-in-hand with the designers already working under the textile department. I will be sharing my ideas as to how we can market Baluchori better so that the weavers, who are right now in a very bad condition due to fewer sales of Baluchori sarees, can benefit,” she explains.
“I have worked on some outfits like gowns, long skirts, long coats, dresses and drapes of Baluchori. People do not know that Baluchori can be worn in a different way other than a saree. In fact, Baluchori can be worn as a piece of the trousseau. Baluchori in the form of a gown looks amazing. We just need to market it at the right place at the right time,” she exclaims.
Informing about the scheduled launch of the project, she says, “The Baluchori programme would be launched on May 8, 2012, which is Pochishe Boishakh, the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. After completion of the Baluchori project, we will also work on other projects for promoting Bengal handlooms as well as Bengal textiles and artifacts & handicrafts.”
The government of West Bengal has approved a project for modernization of the state's textiles and has roped in fashion designer Agnimitra Paul for the same.
Speaking to fibre2fashion, Ms. Agnimitra Paul, revealed, “I was asked to do something with Baluchori sarees by Manas Bhunia, Minister for Small & Micro Industries and Textile, Government of West Bengal. He wanted me to do some work where we can change the look of Bengal handloom and make it more modernized and more marketable.”
“Based on a report submitted by me, the textile department has given a green signal for the project. I will be working hand-in-hand with the designers already working under the textile department. I will be sharing my ideas as to how we can market Baluchori better so that the weavers, who are right now in a very bad condition due to fewer sales of Baluchori sarees, can benefit,” she explains.
“I have worked on some outfits like gowns, long skirts, long coats, dresses and drapes of Baluchori. People do not know that Baluchori can be worn in a different way other than a saree. In fact, Baluchori can be worn as a piece of the trousseau. Baluchori in the form of a gown looks amazing. We just need to market it at the right place at the right time,” she exclaims.
Informing about the scheduled launch of the project, she says, “The Baluchori programme would be launched on May 8, 2012, which is Pochishe Boishakh, the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. After completion of the Baluchori project, we will also work on other projects for promoting Bengal handlooms as well as Bengal textiles and artifacts & handicrafts.”
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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