Images: The magic of muga silk, rediscovered

There are but a few names in the fashion world that excite us simply because of the way they present hand-woven Indian textiles. Vaishali Shadangule, especially, has had us drooling over her creations.

Her latest appearance on the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013 ramp is no different.

Staying true to her trademark style of blending contemporary designs with Indian textiles, Vashali transforms the traditional attire of Assamese women — the Mekhla Chadar — into glamorous red carpet ensembles.

The Mekhla Chadar is a concert of three pieces of cloth — the mekhla is like a skirt, the chadar is a piece of cloth draped over the shoulder like a sari, and a blouse.

Inspired by Assam in every facet of this collection, Vaishali works with the muga silk, which is unique to the state, for the outfits.

Vaishali has been committed to creating contemporary designs from Indian hand-woven textiles.

In working on this collection she has once again blended two of her passions — to highlight the rich culture and heritage of Indian textiles and also help the weavers behind it. She worked with 400 female weavers across Assam for this.

Vaishali says, "I was introduced to the magic of muga silk and its design during my visit to Assam last year. In my collection, I have tried to incorporate elements of the mekhla that symbolizes the complex lanes and architectural design of the villages of the state."

The designer says, "With the beautiful drapes and mix of fine constructions I hope to bring out the beauty of the mekhla by retaining its original elements."

Vaishali adds, "I have also contemporized it with fine cut work and surface texturing of wool and metallic thread."

The muga silk also meets other fabrics in Vaishali's Autum/Winter 2013 collection.

For this collection, Vaishali has experimented with bold hues of gold, orange, pink, fluorescent green and varied shades of blue.

She has complimented it with hand embroidery, which has subtle and understated elegance.

Vaishali says, "While working on the color palette of this collection, I was truly motivated by the 400 female weavers who supported me and brought alive my creativity."

Vaishali Shadangule, who made her debut at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2011, has come a long way today from the girl who ran away from home — a small town in Madhya Pradesh — to Mumbai to pursue her dreams of being a designer.

Her designs continue to make us drool and her story continues to inspire.