Mesmerising hand-woven Bailou and Jaipur’s spellbinding Anokhi at Rithihi

• A collection of unique South Asian design craft from 5-7 and 13-14 November

Experience the mesmerising handcrafted artistry of Kolkata’s colourful Bailou saris and shawls from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November at Colombo’s exclusive sari boutique, Rithihi.

The soft colour hand-woven fabric which epitomises Bailou’s axiom of ‘The spirit of expression’, reflects the vividity of colour that emanates from the streets of Kolkata, which Rithihi brings to life at its Alfred House Gardens Store. Literally meaning ‘By Loom’, Bailou has been one of the brands responsible for the revival of traditional art of hand-weaving in Bengal and the dhoti-sari which was almost extinct. 

The textured fashion often referred to as eco-chic is undoubtedly due to the fact that all raw material is sourced from across the country and is worked at the hands of 1,300 master weavers and artisans across Bengal. This is done under the critical creative eye of designer duo Bappaditya Biswas and Rumi Biswas, who were later joined by partners Malavika Banerjee and Jeet Banerjee. In fact, the Biswas’ commitment to ensuring a fair living in a safe environment for Bailou’s master weavers, earned them a commendation from UNESCO. 

Rithihi has continually espoused the uniqueness and unparalleled beauty of various styles, designs and artistry that emerges from various demographics across India. As its name denotes, Rithihi embraces a ‘Style of Expression’ by showcasing heritage and tradition through unique fabric and incomparable style. Elegance is interwoven into every hand-picked design displayed at the store and each exhibition echoes that Rithihi Style and Spirit of Expression. 

Being socially and environmentally conscious and supporting the handloom cottage industry in South Asia, Rithihi enjoys introducing emerging and established South Asian designers who echo a similar ethos. The beautiful Anokhi designs in both Indian and Western wear, which are quintessentially founded on the ideals of conservation, best practices and revival of traditional textile skills will be seen at Rithihi on the 13 and 14 November.

Distinguished by its prints, sense of design, range of colours and quality, Anokhi is steeped for over forty years in the textile industry of Jaipur and uses the age-old craft of hand carved blocks of wood, the oldest colour technique of vegetable dyeing and skilled craftsmen whose talent is ingrained in their lifeblood for generations. While being cognisant of building a symbiotic relationship between the market and design product, Anokhi’s designs blend contemporary sensibilities with traditions of excellence, using the bold and the striking, the graphic and the colourful.  These exhibitions are the first of a range of exciting plans Rithihi has chartered for the coming months.

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