Use of Cotton - By Paramita Das

Hi Readers This is Paromita Das Freelance Fashion Designer from Bangalore India.In this Blog I am  highlighting some of the best hand weaved fabrics and its use for contemporary outfit which brings our rural  hand loom weavers a business potential in the modern fashion world.

Model Trupthi and Paromita ( Fashion Designer )

Concept :

I have tried to give a different concept to evening gown which is relatively new and innovative. Keeping this in mind I have used Bengal Jamdani and Tripura tribal hand weaved cloth which makes this silhouette more unique. A true integration of western style with Indian hand loom makes this garment fashionable and unique from others. Moreover, I have tried to highlight how we can make use of our cotton handloom for making outfit that is not widely used to make such garment in a big way. This outfit has its uniqueness in many ways as it gives some message for clients who want to do something for a cause and help to keep the traditional weaving style alive. The major problem of the industry is that the weavers do not get adequate wages for their labors. As a result many weavers do not want their children to come to this profession.

This is a black colored double Laird knife pleated floor length evening gown with a multi colored tribal cotton fabric waist band and embellished with bitten zardozi panel and crystal brooch and fancy Mercerized cotton tassel. This is a combination of traditional Indian handloom and western design which gives a fusion look to the outfit.

Construction Details:

     The gown is made out of the traditional hand weaved Jamdani cotton of Bengal with golden thin lurex border. Jamdani patterns are mostly of geometric, plant, and floral designs and are said to originate in Persian and Mughal fusion thousands of years ago. Weaved with all over Jamdani buti to give a rich look to the fabric.I have taken the tribal hand loom of Tripura for waist band. The main feature of Tripuria hand looms is vertical and horizontal stripes with scattered embroidery in different colors.Fabric Contents: 66% Normal cotton , 30 % mercerized cotton and 4 % lurex.

Embellishment Details:

I have used Bitten Zardosi and crystal embroidery panel as a strap to give an a rich and royal look. I have used crystal brooch at the overlap lair of the outfit which gives a feminine approach to the outfit.Also added the lurex on the fabric itself during weaving to give an additional attraction to the outfit.

Trim details:

I have used mercerized cotton yarn for the waist band tassel. Consil Zipper is used in the side seem of the gown.

People Behind the Work :

     The work done by the weavers of Basudebpur Shilpa Samiti is outstanding and the kind of effort that they put for one such garment is really encouraging to the designers who see them personally working on the loom . They are quite friendly and would like to work on innovative designs even if that is quite difficult for them . I thank them for giving me the most needed support. Basudebpur is a small village near to Medinipur West Bengal India having a population of nearly 400 and some 67 families of Tant Weavers. The average income of each family is less than Rs.6685 Annually and with this they try hard to keep up this art of theirs and also live with this money. They are one of the most needed people who need a lot of attention and support both financially and also otherwise. The village does not have a proper road ways and is quite disconnected to the main cities of West Bengal. With the kind of income and difficulties they are loosing the interest towards keeping this profession and heading towards the main cities to pull rickshaw and do some daily wage work. The area has no school no dispensary and many other things which one can realize when go and see the situation of the villagers.

However if proper aid and support provided this art of weaving can be saved and can contribute towards the revenue of the state and also the people in and around Basudebpur. This is a small effort which I feel is worth taking. If we can do fashion it should be for the people and for the most common people. Most affluent people spend a lot of money in having an outfit which is notable and can be recognized and they wear them once and twice in a year. I being a designer I feel if some part of their spending can make some people grow and come to the main stream of life its worth making that kind of fashion and style. At least you should feel proud that the dress that I am wearing is giving some people smile in their face and contributing towards the growth of weavers who seek the most needed attention.

     I am trying in my small way to make them get some reorganization and also trying to attract those people who have a bit of concern towards helping. Through my designs I am trying to reach those people who can and has a willingness and ability to help them. If I can raise one family towards the growth I will surely fee proud and feel my designing skills are worth.

Conclude:

      The main purpose is to make the best use of cotton and hand weaved fabric and also make use of the talent who deserves the due recognition for their hard work.

Paromita Das ( Freelance Fashion Designer )

      Born and Brought up in Agartala Tripura and studied Fashion in NIFT Kolkata and settled in Bangalore, Paromita has sailed a long way for the ultimate desire to become the proud daughter of Tripura and trying myself to become one of the preferred designer. Currently Paromita is am working with couple of International and domestic brands as a lead design consultant .Trying to uplift the Indian Hand loom Weavers through my designs and make them recognized in the international market. Paromita Currently on the process of Lunching my new label in near future.

Paromita Das is now a Freelance Fashion Designer with hands on experience in Technical Designing ( Tech Pack Design). Paromita Das is currently on the process of building up a lot of good brands Internationally. As a Freelance Tech Pack Designer Paromita Das is able to integrate both technical and creative designing skills to create cross-Country and cross-Culture apparel designing with a new and distinct outlook towards the modern fashion technology with a traditional touch.

Paromita Das has more than 10 years of experience in Apparel and Fashion Industry as Fashion Tech pack Designer and Consultant.She has consistent track record of completing projects ahead of schedule and under budget. Experienced in designing apparels of all kind, which suits to relate to the industry requirements as well as compatible to the new outlook.Paromita Das has Complete Understanding on the future Fashion trends. A Constant Follower of W.G.S.N for the latest trend Magazine. All India Toper in Fine Arts conducted by Chandigarh University in the year 1998. Best Student of the year 2005 in NIFT Kolkata for designing and Trend Forecasting. Currently a Part of Lunching a huge Retail Brand in Sweden.

   
As Freelance Fashion Designer handling various clients in USA and Canada and work with them for providing Tech pack, Designer Clothing Consultation, Apparel Tech Pack Detailing, Tech Pack Designing .The tech pack consist of Flat Sketch, Stitching Details Details and Measurement specsheet. I Provide Technical Design for many clothing brands in USA, CANADA, Netherlands and Bulgaria as a Contemporary Apparel Designer and my work span consist of designing T Shirt, Graphic Design for Clothes, Womens Clothing and Fashion illustration as per the specification of the clothing companies.

Orissa Handloom - Freelance Fashion Designer

Dear Readers hope you are enjoying my posts. This is Paromita Das - Freelance Fashion Designer - I am presenting the fragrance of Orissa which gives insight to the Handloom of Orissa.This time I have came up with the Handloom fabric of Orissa as this is my second Home State. For Fashion Designers worldwide the Hand loom of Orissa gives inspiration with its rich cultural heritage rich fabric and sari. However, to cope up with the current trend and modern women’s need the designers should mould themselves to match the fashion trend and makes it more viable towards the modern world. In my collection “Fragrance of Orissa Handloom” I have tried to bring awareness about the rich handloom of Orissa and how it can be molded to the modern and contemporary silhouettes. This collection is somewhat close to the thought process which I have gathered during my visit to Orissa. In this collection I have used Bomkai mixed with Cuttacki and Ekat. These are the core fabrics of Orissa with numerous variety and flavor.As Freelance Fashion Designer and busy schedule of my design studio work of Tech Pack Design I get little time to fulfill my dream of working with Indian Handloom Weavers.However, when I get little time I get associated with them.

Historical Significance of the Fabric Colors and Motifs


"Bomkai" design locally known as "Bandha" design is an Hand loom Technique of Southern Orissa “Sonepur”. The specialty of this fabric is designs on the fabric are created using needle and simple work of needle on Jala (Net Weaving) technique on hand loom.  Motifs are influenced by tribal art with Temple patterns border and elegant color palette. The Borders are featured with ornament border. Border motifs are influenced by Temple, Kumbha, Rudraksha etc. Falling Edge of Bomkai fabric pattern on hand Weaved from gold or silver colored silk threads and patters like rukha (pestle, stick), Dombaru, Kanthi  Phoola (small flower), Kalera (bitter gourd), Shankha (holy musical instrument) peacock and fish. Bomkai is also famous for Geometrical Tribal Designs. Specialty of Bomkai has its contrast borders, heavy designs with a close relation with Jagannath culture, four basic colors which commonly found on the Cloths of God Jagannath Black, White, Red, Yellow orange and is extensively used in Bomkai fabrics. The design and color palette makes Bomkai stand out.

This presentation of Orissa Fabrics is just beginning and working as a Freelance Fashion Designer and with no other support I have tried to make use of it in the best possible way and there would be a lot more coming up in my upcoming collection.

Manipur Handloom : Freelance Fashion Designer Paromita

Hi Readers this is Freelance Fashion Designer Paromita. In this section I am writing my experience in working with people of Manipur. Working with people who work on ground level is always been an exiting experience and over a period of time this has become passion to work with them and work with them closely. My Designer Label "Paromita Das" is always inclined towards Handloom of different parts in India. This is another string of my inclination towards Manipur handloom and working with modern fashion trend. The creation fits the current fashion and the silhouette would fit for all occasions. Pleats and Frills embellished with fabric flowers enhance the look of the dress. Short dresses always lead the trend! You can find your ideal cocktail and prom dresses in every party. The collection is designed to suit fashion forward people who like to wear dress that they can carryon quite often and fit the bill for all occasion.

Inspiration:

I have got opportunity to visit many places as independent and Freelance Fashion Designer and Consultant. I visited Manipur to consult and learn the use of Manipuri Fabric for modern outfits. There I found the fabrics with fabulous colors, texture also quite eco friendly and fashionable which can be used for modern cocktail dress and gowns. So the couple of designs which I have incorporated are mainly keeping in mind the handloom fabrics of Manipur. I found these materials have great potential for making dresses which are quite suitable for summer since they are 100% cotton and at the same time give attractive and trendy look if presented properly.

Model on Manipuri Hand loom Outfit	Trupti - My Show Stopper

Manipur Hand loom Fabric and its Inception:

The traditional skill of handloom weaving is a matter of status symbol the women folk in the state, also is an indispensable aspect of their socio-economic life. This is a share of 27.04% of the total weaver‘s population in Manipur. Notable feature of Manipur Hand-loom industry is entire workforce is women. The women are found to be involved in weaving, dyeing, bleaching and trading of finished products and yarn. Apart from cultivation and agriculture, handloom weaving provides the highest employment to women folk of Manipur. This is a natural cluster of handloom it owes it origin to the inherent need of the people of Manipur.

Their Limitations:

In Spite Manipur Handloom is most important cottage industry in the state. Around 40% of weavers are idle partially for (a) Presuming that bulk production would not find market.(b)  Lack of modern improved design techniques and market awareness. Promoting them in Domestic and International market to provide them work and some extra income and keep them up in the main stream. As an independent and freelance fashion designer a small effort from my end to create awareness of this elegant traditional art of weaving our country stores in it and is slowly diminishing.

Support Strings for Making This Collection Successful:

Our special Thanks to Mr. P. Sachitananda Co- owner of Span Inc for his immense support through the collection presentation and backend support in terms of stitching and processing of the collection. Span Inc sister concern of Palyam Textile Processors established in 1971 and has versatile fabric process house and leading in processing fine fabrics for exports and domestic industry. Also Span Inc has span of Manufacturing and Exporting woven and knitted fashion garments. Span Inc has full range of Apparel Cut & Sew service. Span Inc is also supply all qualities of Fabrics and distributor of Cotton Lenin yarn fabrics.

The Fabric of Manipur	Weaver Weaving Fabric

Miss.Trupthi is a Model, Fashion Choreographer, Dancer and Actress and most prominent personality of Kannada Film Industry. She has been my support since I started my fashion shows and has done many notable shows and modeled for many television shows among with me is the show on Zoom TV a national channel broadcasted across

Fashion Designer Paromita and Show Stoper - Trupthi

Use of Tripura Handloom – By Paromita Das

Hi readers this is Freelance Fashion Designer from Tripura Paromita Das again presenting you the flavor of my Home State Tripura. Agartala My Home town .The State Capital of Tripura one of the 7 sisters of North East State. The Place where I born and spent the early age of my childhood and finished my basic school and college education and started my first journey to become a Fashion designer. I am proud of my state which is one of the smallest and most rapidly growing states in our country. Rich Art and culture and mixture of Tribal and modern Bengali community. Due to its geographical situation the state is less connected to the main land of India and that leads to the main reason of being deprived in many way. So for me to become a Fashion Designer was quite a bit of struggle. Every person who has a root in Tripura has a mindset to grow his / her state and make the country aware about the state and its vibrant culture and tradition. Handloom of Tripura is one of the Integral part of its culture and also a part of its gross GDP. So being a Fashion Designer from Tripura I always feel it’s my duty to make people aware about the Handloom Culture and its diversity to the people across world.

Here in this collection ring I have included the Handloom of Tripura to showcase how it can be effectively used to get the most feasible and attractive modern outfit which can be accepted and used in day to day wearing and also party wear and outfit for casual occasions.

About My State Tripura Handloom Fabric:

RIANG, JAMATIA, TRIPURIA, Chakma, Mogh are among the 19 tribes who weave the traditional Tripuri costume of simple rectangular wraps on the loin or body tension loom in its distinct set of motifs and colors. The loom is light, mobile, ingeniously simple and inexpensive to construct and made of locally available materials like bamboo and wood. Well suited to tribal life and terrain, it is significant as a symbol of the peoples` efforts to remain self-sufficient. The fabrics woven on this loom are narrow and warp dominant. The riah (breast cloth)is woven as a single strip whose width depends on the age of the wearer while the pasra (wrapped skirt) consists of two pieces that are joined to make the required larger width. Other than daily wear, some of these textiles also play a vital role in the ceremonial and ritual life of tribal societies and are greatly valued as heirloom objects. Patterning, which is mostly symmetrical, ranges from colorful stripes running in the direction of the warp, to figurative and geometric motifs woven in supplementary weft that intersperse the ground. Weaving is exclusively a woman`s activity and passed on from mother to daughter, each family weaving to meet its own needs. Traditionally woven using natural dyed cotton, the more commercialized contemporary pieces have almost entirely shifted to using acrylic as a raw material, as it is cheaper and requires less skill in weaving.

Tant - Handloom of West Bengal

USE OF BENGAL TANT

Hi Friends, This is Fashion Designer Paromita Das Again and on my this post I am trying to show the fragrance of Bengal Tant handloom which could be a great option for not only for those who wear saris but also to the customers who would like to feel the comfort of organic and comfort of our traditional Tant without leaving their existing lifestyle and outfits. So to say, My Collection here is to show the innovative use of traditional handloom of Bengal Tant in Modern and contemporary outfits.

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In this collection I have incorporated two well know and Most traditional Bengal Tant Handloom fabric which is Daccai Jamdani and Tangail. So far this was confined to Saris however, I found it can show its true importance if it is also used for contemporary dresses and gowns. Like I said on my previous post where I have used this fabrics for an evening gown. Being a Technical Fashion Designer and from Bengal it inspired me to do something creative on those handloom and also try something which appeals the young and happening consumers. I sincerely feel there is a lot of scope of using those handloom fabrics to present the customers with something new which will give a mid way of new stuff and at the same time keeping and growing this traditional culture intact.

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The famous of all is Bengali cotton which is famously known as “Tant”. Its considered to be the most comfortable supporting the hot climate. Bengali cotton are commonly called Tant. Its hand woven having bright colors with decorative borders. Triumphing over the trauma of partition, weaver families which migrated to West Bengal in the 1950’s have helped keep alive a priceless heritage of highly stylized weaving techniques honed over generations. The hand-loom industry in the eastern region has had its share of bumpy rides, but Bengal hand-looms have survived the ups and downs to become a household name among connoisseurs of textiles.

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DACCAI JAMDANI:

Daccai Jamdani is distinguished from its mutant cousins by its very fine texture resembling muslin and the elaborate and ornate workmanship. In Bangladesh, weavers use fine Egyptian cotton, while the Indian weavers use only indigenous raw material. The Daccai Jamdani is woven painstakingly by hand on the old fashioned Jala loom, and many take even up to one year to weave a single sari or fabric. These Jamdani, which are literally “woven dreams”, are the most sought after saris and fabrics today.

OTHER JAMDANI:

While the Daccai Jamdani is strictly a party affair, the other Jamdanis are much sought after by fashion-conscious working women for their elegance. These are mostly Jamdani motifs on Tangail fabric and are generally known by the confusing no-men cloture of Tangail Jamdani. Tangail, Dhoneokali, Shantipuri and Begumpuri are other popular styles of Bengal handlooms in the lower price range. Of these, Tangail which comes from Fulia, has a fine texture, with its 100s count fabric and highly stylized motifs, while Dhoneokali is known for its stripes and checks. Over the years, the distinctive patterns have merged as weavers started experimenting with various combinations of design and yarn, so much so, it is now difficult to distinguish between the various styles, unless one is an expert on texture.