Concern India Foundation’s bi-annual charity show Pause for a Cause is bringing together more than 25 weavers, entrepreneurs and designers from across India. Tania Roy catches up with a few of them.

If you are looking for unique Indian wear in rich fabrics embellished with exquisite embroidery or made attractive with eye-catching stripes, prints or other trendy designs, the ongoing exhibition Pause for a Cause at Sonal Hall might be an interesting place to stop by.

Zahida Amin is showcasing saris, dupattas and stoles with intricate traditional Kashmiri embroidery as well as trendy, asymmetrical designs. “We have to keep youngsters in mind who are not so much into saris. For them, we have versatile accessories like stoles and dupattas, which go with jeans, skirts and almost any ensemble,” says Amin, who is based in Srinagar.

For the past eight years, Amin has been embellishing tussar silk and South cotton and Kanjeevaram silk saris, dupattas and stoles with rich Kashmiri ari and needle work. To help her with fabric artistry, Amin has an all women’s group Nayi Kiran, which employs almost 50 to 60 women. “We have 19-to 50-year-olds working for us, and most of them are full time,” says Amin who in the past has participated in charity events like CIF’s show in Chennai, exhibitions organised by Delhi-based craft society Dastkar and Lucknow by other NGOs, to name a few.

At Seema Raman’s kiosk at Sonal Hall, you will find casual to semi-formal fabrics, kurtas, dupattas and saris. “I travel across the length and breadth of the country to handpick pieces which are unique. So even if the print of a salwar-kameez suit is basic, you will find some colour, say, on the border which will be eye-catching,” says Pune-based Raman who has been in the trade for the past six years. For Raman, it’s a one-woman show; she has been managing her business all by herself.

Raman has been participating in CIF’s shows for the past two years. Sharing her experiences, she says, “I really enjoy these events because the atmosphere is nice. Mostly, you have a niche crowd and an educated clientele who understands the craft. Also, participating in a charitable cause makes you feel good at the end of the day,” she adds.

If you want a slice of Bengal’s textile heritage, take a look at Bharati Dutta’s collection. “For the past nine years, I have been working with six weaving families in Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal. The printing is done by printers in Hooghly district. All the printing and dyeing are done manually as also the kantha stitch and phulkari work, a craft from Punjab. The handicraft helps the artisans earn a livelihood as well as keeps our art alive,” says Dutta who specialises in handloom tussar saris and dress materials.

Dutta has been taking part in CIF’s exhibitions for the past two to three years. “I find a lot of good patrons in Pune. They appreciate my craft,” says she.

The three-day exhibition at Sonal Hall, Karve Road, closes today, July 19, at 7.30 pm. So hurry up!