Kashmiri Tilla shines at Nepal Fashion Week 2014

Daljit’s Kashmir embroidery apparels evoke unending applause

Kashmiri Tilla embroidery embellished reputed models walking the ramp at the Nepal Fashion Week 2014 at Kathmandu.
The final day of the four-day fashion extravaganza TGIF Nepal Fashion Week 2014 was overshadowed by designer Daljit Sudan whose creation evoked a long run of applause from the audience.
Daljit dared to put on a clean line of dresses with minimal glamorization, which was found to be a success.
The silver and gold embroidery, locally called ‘Tilla’ is a type of embroidery work found on ladies cloaks called ‘Pheron’, shawls and salwar kameez.
Tilla embroidery is done with a needlepoint using gold and silver thread.
Daljit presented two collections, the first one being inspired by the natural beauty of Kashmir and traditional craftsmanship of Kashmiri silver and gold embroidery – Tilla.
The collection was found explored mostly on the colors like red and maroon, the line being the traditional.
This collection presented traditional attires like Anarkali styles, traditional draping of saris, kurta salwar and lehenga.
When yesteryear’s Bollywood actor Tina Ambani visited Kashmir with her husband, business tycoon Anil Ambani and mother-in-law Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani, she was fascinated by Kashmiri Tilla work.
In Kashmir, Tilla embroidery is on the brink of extinction and the local fashion designers like Zubair Kirmani have also tried to revive it.
Recently, Zubair also showcased his Tilla embroidery work apparels at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2014 at New Delhi.
Kashmir’s bride is incomplete if her trousseau does not have a Tilla embroidered pheran, a long cloak worm during winters.
From shimmering gold to shining copper and sparkling silver, these embroidery threads are fast losing sheen in Kashmir as artisans are opting out while the demand recedes.
Daljit’s second line of collection ‘Ruh Ruhani’ was inspired by divine spirit featuring the contemporary styles with off whites, blues and greens being the major color.
This smart casual range was been portrayed on the fabrics like silk linen, linen, georgette and chiffon having the paintings of lotus as the artwork on the dresses.
Inspired by the divine spirit, the theme for both sequences is enlightenment and cosmic harmony.
A devotional tribute to the creator, ‘Ruh Roohani’ attempts to connect the soul with the divine spirit through symbols and loving artwork.
“Art without soul is merely an object, a piece of art that is inspired by the love of the divine spirit, is an experience,” Daljit said.