Indian textiles

Over the years, I have been incredibly fortunate to travel around and spend many months in the beautiful country that is India, my ancestral home.

One of the most interesting things about India is the amount of colour and the sheer variety of colours and textiles used in clothing and in home decor. I have always had a strong love for sarees, in particular the ones from Tamil Nadu, my ancestral state. The weavers take several weeks to weave a single saree, starting from dying and spinning the threads to weaving them into beautiful designs, often featuring threads made of real gold.

My personal favourite type of saree is the Thirupuvanam silk, woven by the lovely Anantha and Vasudevan in Kumbakonam. However, there are many other types of saree that I often wear, such as the famous kanjeevaram and Benares silk. These sarees are what I generally wear for special occasions or when I am in Tamil Nadu.

For everyday wear in Australia, I still wear Indian fabrics, generally the block-printed ones from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Artisans carve blocks out of wood, and then use the carved blocks to imprint designs onto cotton.  I love the way that by wearing garments produced in the traditional manner, I have the privilege of helping to preserve the industry. 

I fear that some of the incredible textile industry in India is in danger of dying out. Every time I see my saree weaver friends they tell me that there are fewer and fewer people weaving sarees and making traditional carpets. These artisans are incredibly skilled and in terms of culture and history, it would be a huge loss to all of mankind if these traditions are not preserved.

That is why we have created a tour where we visit some of the various textile troves of India, ranging from the intricate handloom weaves of Varanasi (Benares) to the vibrant Rajasthani block prints, offering a deep dive into the artistry, techniques and stories behind India's world-renowned fabrics.

I am very much looking forward to traveling in India with you!