16 April,2011 08:45 AM IST | | Mandovi Menon
Textile art and craft revivalist Bela Shanghvi's Nana Chowk store is part of a fashion and design endeavour to preserve the craftsmanship from 28 Indian states and villages. Shoppers can choose from saris, blouses and jewellery, each showcasing the country's unique crafts
"Each of India's 28 states and several of the villages within those states has its own distinct designs, its own textile language," says a passionate Bela Shanghvi, proprietor, Purnakala.
The well-known revivalist of almost-extinct textile arts and crafts hopes to create a market for the stunning and elegant weaves she is dedicated to preserving through Purnakala.
Bela Shanghvi with fellow designers Bhavisha Parekh and Rashmi Gandhi
The entrance prepares us for the sumptuous feast of textiles that awaits us inside. An exquisitely carved piece of wood (tell-tale signs of Orissa craftsmanship) crowns the otherwise simple wooden door.
Despite the resplendent hues and woven works that hang languorously over the store, a familial atmosphere is maintained, which can be attributed to the energy of Bela and fellow designers Bhavisha Parekh and Rashmi Gandhi.
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If you feel you know little about textiles, the women will ensure that you do not feel lost, given their extensive knowledge on the subject.
One can comfortably settle on a low, luxurious white bed and eye the exquisite works that include saris, blouses and jewellery. Our eyes could hardly adjust to the varied designs and geometric shapes.
Purnakala stands out for their wearable styles that range from elegant Ashavali saris to simple Bandhani ones, and neutral blouse pieces with stitched pearls. Each piece is an investment, whose value is likely to only increase over time.
Shanghvi mentions that it has taken close to 30 years for the number of weavers in the country to grow from a handful to 400 today, indicative of a positive trend in the preservation of the craft.
Purnakala's colours and patterns will remain etched in your memory far longer than you can imagine. With this store, Shanghvi might have managed to weave delicate pieces of India into the heart of Mumbai.
AT Ness Baug, Shop 1, Annexe 1, Nana Chowk.
CALL 9820042350
PRICE RANGE Rs 3,500 to
Rs 50,000
