Wendell Rodricks unveils book on Kashmiri shawls

‘Kashmir Shawls – The TAPI Collection’, a

book exploring the rich legacy of shawl weaving techniques in the beautiful Kashmir valley, was released recently by ace designer Wendell Rodricks at the leading art and collectible auction house Saffronart in Mumbai. Published by Mumbai’s The Shoestring Publisher, the book has been co-authored by a group of internationally renowned textile scholars like Steven Cohen, Rosemary Crill, Monique Lévi-Strauss and Jeffrey B. Spurr. It includes a range of essays written on the nature and development of Kashmiri shawls between the 17th to early 20th century.

The book talks about the popularity of Kashmiri shawls as a coveted male winter fashion accessory, favoured by the 19th century Mughal emperors and aristocratic families of northern India, Bengal and the Deccan regions. Later, in the beginning of 20th century, these shawls were cut up to make smaller, fashionable shawls for ladies.

A brain child of Indian textile collectors Shilpa and Praful Shah, the TAPI (Textiles & Art of the People of India) is a comprehensive collection of various historical Indian textiles, such as folk, regional embroidery, religious, Mughal and provincial royal courts textile products.