Known for using traditional crafts and textiles, designer Madhu Jain wil Known for using traditional crafts and textiles,

Different Weaves

Known for using traditional crafts and textiles, designer Madhu Jain wil

Known for using traditional crafts and textiles,

As part of the Diamond Jubilee year celebrations of the Jehangir Art Gallery, Delhi-based designer Madhu Jain who’s completed 25 years in the profession, will showcase her works in the city next week. Co-organised by Tina Tahiliani, this showing will feature Madhu’s works through the years. Talking about the journey, the designer says, “I feel blessed to have been an integral part of the awakening of the fashion industry in India. I found my focus early on and have been involved in the revival of Indian textiles making them contemporary and acceptable to the present generation. In this way, I feel I’ve contributed a small bit to helping the many handloom and craftspeople of India, many of whom have over the years been reduced to giving up their ancestral profession.” This, says Madhu, is what has helped her carve a separate identity that keeps her away from the rat race. She feels that today the country seems to be on the threshold of a revival of interest in Indian crafts and textiles, with young designers showing a keen interest. “But unfortunately there was a huge gap in between when Indian crafts and textiles languished and we have lost many years when we relegated our precious and priceless techniques to the background,” laments Madhu. Her traditional Indian garments boast of work by craftspeople and textile workers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Gujarat, with ikkat from all three states, uppada and kalamkari from AP and Nakshi kantha from Bangladesh. She adds, “I think the spirit, the soul of the work has to be traditional and classic. But the silhouettes and styles can be worked upon so they are acceptable to today’s clientele.” Madhu was also involved in Project M with model/entrepreneur Milind Soman which is their attempt to give back to society. “We did a huge textile installation using a bamboo fibre base combined with kalamkaari to create a tree of knowledge for the Commonwealth Games in India.We are also involved in a project on Kashmir which will be based in New York,” explains Madhu. Having dressed a number of Bollywood names like Waheeda Rahman, Rekha, Rani Mukerji and Juhi Chawla, Madhu is not fazed by the glamour aspect. “I am not really a Bollywood designer, but yes these actors do pick up my clothes off and on. Some of my regular clientele includes Maneka Gandhi, the royal family of Saudi Arabia, Sheila Dixit, among others,” she says. Female models in Madhu Jain specials and (top) Miland Soman wearing one of Madhu’s creations