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Kanchi Kasavu textiles. Photo taken by Soumya Rao
Spanning the length and breadth of India, there are several dozen different textile traditions. Some, like Rajasthani block prints and Bengali Kantha embroidery, are well known.
Soumya will introduce us to a few of the lesser known techniques and traditions focussing on the southern part of the country, through her small collection of sarees, including Kanchipuram, Mysore silk, Kasavu and Kasuthi. There will be many beautifully coloured and textured sarees to handle and enjoy. Soumya will also demonstrate a couple of ways of wearing a saree in order to demystify the process and showcase the elegance of a simple length of unstitched fabric.
Kanchi Kasavu sarees. Photo attributed to Pexels
Soumya Rao
Soumya has a chemistry and linguistics background but has always been passionate about textiles in every form. Growing up in India, from a young age she was aware of the rich textile traditions of the country, thanks to her extended family, which always sought out beautiful textiles for wearing and furnishing. She wore her first saree when she was 16 and her love for the elegant garment has only grown ever since. But her fascination didn’t stop at wearing or collecting sarees. She wanted to understand the history and the techniques that went into making them. To this end, she is continually learning, meeting and engaging with people who keep traditional textile practices alive, in India, and in Lithuania, where her in-laws live. Soumya is a textile researcher, spinner and weaver in her spare time. She rates sci-fi shows not on the plot or acting, but on the costume design.
COST: Taasa Members $25 Non-members: $35
Light refreshments will be served.
Please make reservations and payment in advance through this website.
