Despite being a symbol of cultural and spiritual significance for centuries, the age-old fabric Khunn native to northern Karnataka has shrunk to just 40 looms today in a small village called Guledgudda in Karnataka. Thus, this collection BISRA (Forgotten one) is a desperate attempt to seek the attention of the world to the charismatic charm and glory Khunn inherits, says New York-based fashion designer Vaishali.
She explains, “As we know, the attempt to restore or reestablish something which has passed or have gone in time will never succeed because it has passed for a reason, but possibilities of interpreting it in new forms always exist. So through this collection, I have made an attempt to rediscover the art of the KHUN weave which is a contemporary interpretation of this rich tradition. I hope this collection will offer nostalgic glimpses into past glory, even while creating a timeless fashion statement for the modern day fan of the handloom weave.
The collection is a modern interpretation of traditional aesthetics and exploration of relevance to the contemporary understanding of global fashion. The collection is a compilation of modern silhouettes to translate the glory and deep cultural significance of the textile Khunn. The color story includes pink, orange, green, red and a few more bright colors as an identity of Khand.
“I observed the same when I recently visited Guledgudda, a small but historically rich oasis of fabric in Karnataka, where the art of the centuries-old weave “KHUN” has been close to death. It is difficult to find weavers of original Khunn and those who are left must be respected and preserved to safeguard its continuity. The few surviving weavers of Khunn are now reduced to producing mixed textiles or power loom weaves. I have adopted 40 looms in the village to make sure that the weavers have a fixed income coming to them so that they and this beautiful weave can survive” concludes the designer.
