Hollywood stylist G K Reid gives global touch to Bengal handlooms

Hollywood stylist G K Reid, recently visited Kolkata to source Bengal handloom fabrics to create garments for a project produced by Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto and directed by Indrani Pal Chaudhuri. Reid is known for designing for the likes of Lady Gaga in Hello Kitty, Rihanna for the cover of her 'Good Girl Gone Bad' album, Jennifer Lopez for several shoots and red-carpets.

The costumes are made out of 'tussar' and 'gorod' silk and muslin fabrics from Bengal and are worn by Bollywood actors Nandita Das, Madhuri Dixit, Sushmita Sen, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra and Kareena Kapoor in the 'Girl Rising — Woh Padhegi, Woh Udegi' project. Amitabh Bachchan has lent his voice for the narration.

Reid was enthused with the idea of working for project on girl empowerment and he also wanted to promote dying art of handloom weaving by working with the artisans of Bengal, who are suffering at the cost of cheap powerloom products. He travelled to Kolkata to source fabrics and create costumes for the project. Though his future projects as a stylist are under wraps, Reid plans to introduce eco-friendly Bengal weaves to his celebrity clients.