Eri silk with back strap loom weaves

Shiddat’s drape and Pallu are woven on the back strap loom and then handstitched using the indigenous needle stitching skill. These panels are woven, keeping an intuitive mirror image where the desired motifs fall in natural symmetry. Even now, these weavers do not use any precision tools to achieve calculations. They still use the ancient methods of measuring with palm and elbow length. The repetitive braid and tassel motif lends playfulness to this traditional shawl.

The ikkat borders draw a beautiful contrast to the weaves, celebrating one of my favourite colour combinations: red and black with a hint of white.

The base and pleats of the sari are handspun, hand woven eri silk where we used lac to bring out this gorgeous natural eri.

Shiddat is a one-of-a-kind textile designed to highlight a unique coming together of various techniques and creativity of handcraft. This design will not be recreated. Shiddat comes with a blouse fabric designed to encourage Mora fireflies to bring their authentic spirit to the fabrication of blouse fit, usage of borders and edgings. The blouse worn by me is not included.

Param did the tassels

Gurmail, the tailor

Narmohan Dada, the master Eri silk pioneer

Weaves with North East Network

Mumma, Madhu, technical supervision of stitching 

Midtoan.com, the photographer

Designed by Ritika