Exhibition in Mumbai showcases organic sarees

Mani Chinnaswamy and Vijayalaxmi Nachiar with weavers

For Vijayalaxmi Nachiar and her husband Mani Chinnaswamy, the idea behind establishing Ethicus was to bring together farmers, handloom weavers and traditional artisans to create a brand that promotes sustainable fashion. And this summer, they are bringing together a range of organic cotton sarees crafted by master artisans, at an exhibition.

The two-day event will showcase sarees designed to meet both daily and festive needs. "All the sarees have been weaved by the traditional craftsmen of Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. We also have smart designs in pastel colours to suit contemporary tastes," says Nachiar, who is the creative head of the company. She adds that the exhibition features rai bandhani sarees, sarees with floral brocade work, and pallus woven in the Korvai style, a famous weaving technique of southern India.

Plus, they have collaborated with artisans from Kutch in Gujarat to curate hand block-printed ajrakh sarees Nachiar also says, "Along with growing our own organic cotton and using natural dyes, we try to give handloom artisans a platform to promote their ancient craft. So, we try to combine different techniques of traditional weaving with handloom art to come up with innovative designs that are new-age and fuss-free, and which hold value for customers apart from also helping preserve the livelihood of the craftsmen."

ON: February 22 and 23, 10 am to 7 pm
AT: Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort.
CALL: 9688011000

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates