Rome 2024 India Forum Fashion Show – Indian fashion parades under the starry sky of Rome.
Colorful saris in fine fabrics, iconic choli decorated with gold and silver threads, Indian craftsmanship symbolizing women’s freedom and independence: these are the ingredients of a magical evening in the name of a precious India-Italy synergy, with a eye towards the sustainability of the manufacturing sector.
Magical strips of fabric up to 9 meters long, fine fabrics in bright colours, rich patterns adorned with gold and silver threads, precious ornaments: it is rare, in Italy, to be able to see the creations of new Indian fashion designers. Even rarer is the possibility of attending a predominantly female cultural and fashion event, with great attention to combining manufacturing, creativity and environmental sustainability.
The appointment is Monday 17 Junestarting from 7pm, on the iconic terrace of the Hotel Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria, with the Rome 2024 India Forum Fashion Show, under the starry sky. A show that aims to raise awareness of Indian fashion, an ancient art, key in India’s fight for freedom. It is no coincidence, in fact, that most of the designers present are women.
The evening will be accompanied by a cocktail with live music: a sax duo that will cheer up the guests present.
India is an epicenter for handicraft production, with a wide range of different fabrics, prints, and dyeing and weaving techniques for over thirty regional varieties of saris. Each region of India has in fact developed its own interpretation, with fine fabrics such as Banarasi silk, Khadi cotton and delicate chiffon. The patterns, prints and workmanship vary from place to place, embodying the cultural diversity that spans the country.
THE CONTEXT OF INDIA FORUM IN ITALY
The parade will also be an opportunity to continue the ongoing discussion at the India Forum (from 16 to 18 June) which, in its very first editionwill bring a delegation of Indian entrepreneurs to Rome to discuss a possible concrete collaboration with their Italian colleagues (representing various Chambers of Commerce, trade associations and Confindustria), in key sectors such as defense, entertainment, fashion (textiles and accessories), agri-food and startups.
Italy aims to be India’s gateway to Europe. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s two visits to India in 2023 and subsequent agreements between her and Indian Prime Minister Modi have confirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries.
In difficult and unstable geopolitical times like the current ones, with attacks on navigation and free movement in the Red Sea, India and Italy are called to be pillars of the Indo-Mediterranean, pillars of security, stability and prosperity. Italy is a founding member of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), not only a transport corridor that reduces the time and cost of transporting goods between India and Europe, but also a connectivity and energy corridor. While the home ports of India and the transit ports of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have almost been decided, it is essential that Italy is the final terminal of IMEC in Europe, a step that will bring prosperity and growth to the Italian cities.
These are the premises that gave rise to the India Forum in Italy, organized in Rome by the Chief Representative for Italy of the Indian Chamber of Commerce. The objective is to make the India Forum a annual event to bring together Indian and Italian entrepreneurs and advance the discussion on the joint role of India and Italy in the Indo-Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific.
THE DESIGNERS
SELINA SAMAL
The dresses proposed by this designer are completely hand embroidered on poppet looms, with 100% cotton and 100% silk yarns. Fabric patterns are created with the ikat method, one of the oldest textile coloring techniques in the world, in which the design is created before weaving, through the process of dyeing the yarns. When it comes to natural, organic dye, as in this case, each color requires a different temperature and conditions, therefore, the more colors there are, the more difficult it is to create a design
SHE KANTHA by Malika Dudeja Varma
She Kantha has been at the forefront for the rediscovery and renewal of traditional Kantha artisan embroidery from the rural region of Bengal for 35 years. With the pioneering vision of transforming the simple running stitch into an expression of art and culture, She Kantha has gone from leading a small group of 10 artisans to a “family” of over a thousand women working across Bengal.
Kantha originated from the way Bengali housewives mended old clothes by pulling thread from the colored border of their saris and making simple designs with them. Kantha, in its simplest form, was invented out of necessity and made in various sizes and layers: from small pieces of cloth spread out in the yard to lay newborn babies on, to quilts for sleeping, to shawls that are wrapped around the shoulders on winter mornings.
The founder, Shamlu Dudeja, has transformed the humble art of this stitch into high fashion, earning it national and international recognition and popularity. With her daughter Malika Varma, the magic of Kantha is applied to the most delicate chiffons, georgette and crepe, to create from traditional sarees or stoles, scarves, jackets, dresses to more avant-garde accessories. The creative vision instilled a new energy to achieve the dual purpose of sustainability of the craft and economic independence of all rural women involved in production. The tools are simple – round looms and needles, purchased in local markets. Balls of thread and a needle are used to create the designs and often beads and sequins are also used as decorations.
SENCO GOLD
Senco Gold and Diamonds is a brand that boasts a strong heritage of craftsmanship, with over 85 years of history. Senco Gold’s strong point is sustainability; in fact, 40% of jewelery is made using recycled gold. They are the only Indian jewelery brand to be associated with the Responsible Jewelers Council. Not only that, Senco Gold and Diamonds invests in young Indians, offering them professional training courses in the jewelery sector, thus creating a workforce and offering these young people a better future in their homeland.
KALAKRITI OF PAROMA
Paroma’s Kalarkriti saris are made from fine fabrics, such as Bengal Tussar and silk, directly hand-woven. The sarees are then finished to be designed by hand. After decoration, the saris go through a manual process of steaming and hammering (kudi), this phase also takes place strictly by hand, to bring out the shine and liveliness of the Indian fabrics.
BANK
At Banka style meets sustainability. The garments of this brand are made by artisans, bringing elegance together with ecological awareness. Only sustainable fabrics such as linen, silk and cotton in earth tones are chosen. The fabrics take on color thanks to vegetable dyes, with the application of holes and decorations inspired by the world of nature.
Credits: © Courtesy of Ilaria Scenna PR
