Designer duo breathe fresh life to dyeing Benarasi silk industry

The Benarasi silk industry is once again coming to its own with leading designers and the government together taking initiatives to boost the dying trade of a weaving which was reducing due to lack of work and a proper pay. Working on a collection woven around Banaras is a serious business for two renowned ethnic wear designers like Delhi-based Anuradha Raman and Kolkata-based Jaya Misra. They are creating collections that use fabrics with a touch of Banaras to keep this handwork-based industry thriving from threast from power looms, computer-generated designs and competition from Chinese silk imports.

To keep traditions alive, Anuradha Raman is using Banarasi elements in a way to modernise her outfits, keeping colours and the exquisite weaving pattern that gives a sense f heritage. As Raman says while growing up she saw her mother wear pure Banarasi sari with striking silver and golden work. She herself has have introduced a change by using an adha Banarasi where one half is Banarasi and the other a silk sari to give it a modern twist. Ramani has also have used other elements like zari border on long blue cape and gota .

Similarly, Misra recently showcased her collection ‘The Resurrection of Varanasi’ in Delhi recently. It is Indian ethnic line with brocade, silk. The look was created in Banaras, where different kinds of brocade were weaved. Misra’s USP is styling which is contemporary, cool and in sync with today’s generation. Her latest collection was made with traditional weaves and handlooms from Banaras as she is committed to the cause of reviving the heritage of the city. She has mixed yarns of silk and zari together to create elaborate patterns.

These two designers along with some others are working with weavers who are keeping the art of hand weaving alive despite the temptation of power looms.