Editorial : Nidhi Jain , Designer
In contemporary times when younger women avoid wearing saris, mostly due to time constraint, designer Nidhi Jain is all set to promote handspun saris to the cosmopolitan dresser in urban India. “I love to promote handloom alongside my couture collection. I am trying to fit handloom into mainstream fashion by educating people on various traditional fabrics, as I also try to give this authentic Indian wear a contemporary twist,” says Nidhi. The designer is ready with her latest collection called Stritva and prominent personalities from various walks of life are already wearing interesting pieces from it. Revealing more about her collection, Nidhi says, “Stritva means feminity in Hindi. Personally, the sari embodies feminity and I feel there is nothing more sensuous than this drape.” Four popular ladies — Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan, artist Mithu Sen, actor and politician Vani Tripathi Tikoo and activist and politician Jaya Jaitley have worn Nidhi’s creations. “We thought that woman achievers wearing these saris and looking stunning in them, is the ideal way to interest the urban outgoing woman,” says the designer. She adds,”I am thankful to Vani, Jayaji, Mithu and Shovanaji for supporting my cause.” To get the best techniques in handloom, Nidhi has travelled the country extensively. She says, “I went to places such as Uppada, Pochampally in South India and met the weavers. I also interacted with them personally to get closer to the making of the process of creating these fabulous pieces. It was a great experience for me.”