If you are someone who thinks khadi is only for the 40 and above, trust Tara Aslam, the founder of Nature Alley, to change your perception in a jiffy. One look at her stylish line of clothing and accessories is good enough to get you addicted to khadi.
The enterprising designer’s sense of colour and styling are contemporary no doubt but what also makes each of her garments stand out is the thought that goes behind the designs.
So ask her what drove her to quit her secure job with a leading garment brand and take up the task of giving khadi a facelift and she says, “Ever since my school days I have looked at khadi as a symbol of community building. It is a tool we can use to empower our community. Mill made garments offer greater longevity and provide a larger colour palette. Also, fabrics such as polyester are being as they are easy to maintain, but in this process, traditional weavers are suffering. I floated Nature Alley to do my bit toward keeping the tradition of khadi alive.” And we must admit that she is doing a great job of it. “Karnataka is a khadi hub. In fact, the Indian flag is made from the khadi sourced from here. I want to, in my own small way, help the weavers in the state. Verily why, I have recently tied up with the Janapada Seva Trust to encourage weavers in Melkote. I have started sourcing fabric from them and my next plan is to make outfits from them and sell them by setting up a shop,” says Tara.
Taking another step ahead in the direction of community building, Tara also gets rural women to execute her designs. “Initially it was quite a challenge to make them understand my needs and requirements. More than anything, it was the choice of colours that we differed on. They felt my choice of colours were very “mara hua!” and wanted to use really bright colours. But now they are conditioned to understand the tastes of urbanites. The finish of the products is an important factor I ask them to focus on,” adds Tara.
Her latest collection includes salwars, kurtas and tops. “Urban silhouettes on desi fabrics is what the collection is all about. Since I wanted to play with the beauty of the fabric and let people enjoy khadi, I have kept the embroidery on it minimal,” says Tara. A range of happy colours dominate this line of clothing. Bangles, bags, necklaces and patch work quilts are also a part of the collection. Kalamkari prints are also put to good use while designing the garments. The price range starts from Rs650 to Rs3,000.
Now, if the idea of keeping our tradition alive positively excites you then head to The ANTS Store, Indiranagar for the exhibition Tara Aslam is participating in. The exhibition is on from August 10-12 between 10.30am and 8pm.
