Varanasi. Banaras. Kashi. Shiv Nagri.
One of the oldest surviving cities of India, Banaras is considered to be the land of the gods. Believed to be the residing place of Lord Shiva, this city, one of the sacred places of Sapta Puri, has evolved on the banks of the river Ganges. Faith resides in the belief that the end of this place would bring salvation. Considered to be the birth place of Buddhism and the holiest place on earth for Hinduism and Jainism, Banaras functions as a timeless symbol of hope and spirituality for millions alive. This city is known for its life alongside the ghats of river Ganga, Varuna and Asi and eventually that is where it derives its name from- Varanasi. It functions as one of the largest hubs of silk weaving and production as well as tourism while it roots an infamous history of artists, writers, mythology, religious gatherings and most of all, spirituality.
Adopting the spiritual colors of Banaras as a theme, I hereby bring to you a collection of samples based on a vast exploration of the elements of Banaras’s Ghats, Banarsi Silk, the temples and the sadhus, peace and spirituality and the aromatic healings of the city itself.
One of the oldest surviving cities of India, Banaras is considered to be the land of the gods. Believed to be the residing place of Lord Shiva, this city, one of the sacred places of Sapta Puri, has evolved on the banks of the river Ganges. Faith resides in the belief that the end of this place would bring salvation. Considered to be the birth place of Buddhism and the holiest place on earth for Hinduism and Jainism, Banaras functions as a timeless symbol of hope and spirituality for millions alive. This city is known for its life alongside the ghats of river Ganga, Varuna and Asi and eventually that is where it derives its name from- Varanasi. It functions as one of the largest hubs of silk weaving and production as well as tourism while it roots an infamous history of artists, writers, mythology, religious gatherings and most of all, spirituality.
Adopting the spiritual colors of Banaras as a theme, I hereby bring to you a collection of samples based on a vast exploration of the elements of Banaras’s Ghats, Banarsi Silk, the temples and the sadhus, peace and spirituality and the aromatic healings of the city itself.
THE MOOD BOARD : Capturing the elements and the attributes of how Banaras serves as a major hub for faith and spirituality.
INSPIRATION 1 :
The Sadhu
COLOR SCHEME :
Gold yellow, Maroon, Vermillion Orange, White.
WEAVE :
Plain weft rib
Imbibing in the vibrancy of the naga sadhus on the ghats of banaras, this sample is eye strinking in terms of high contrast colors and elemets like beads, tassels and religious threads.
INSPIRATION 2 :
The Prasadi
COLOR SCHEME :
Burnt brown, Jute red, Vermillion orange, Damask crimson, white
WEAVE:
Plain Weft rib
The sample encompasses the texture of dry coconuts and the feel of the holy spool of thread ( the kalawa) while the color palatee refers directly towards the Hinduism spirituality on the ghats of Banaras.
INSPIRATION 3:
Incense and Aroma
COLOR SCHEME :
White, Vermillion Orange, Crimson
WEAVE :
Basket weave, Plain weft rib
Basket weave, Plain weft rib
This sample creatively incorporates incense sticks woven in a palin structure with highly contrasted cotton yarns. It gives the advantage of aroma over other samples directing the fabric feel towards the heavy use of aroma and fragrance to evoke Faith.
INSPIRATION 4 :
The Ghat
COLOR SCHEME :
Royal blue, Prussian blue, Gold, Metallic copper, Violet, White
Royal blue, Prussian blue, Gold, Metallic copper, Violet, White
WEAVE:
Twill
This sample uses silk as a priority yarn to magnify the metaphor over Banaras's fame of Silk Production nationwide. The earthy color palette sybolises the ghant while the use of the shades of blue simply represent the vast expanse of river Ganga. The tinkerbells contrast the sample with its symbolic meaning referring to the huge temple bells-
and how the whole combined set up create a rich, graceful and vibrant atmosphere of The Ghat.
