Furry fiesta
The 8th edition of Pet festival opens at NSIC grounds this weekend
arlier this year, New Yorkbased designer Bibhu Mohapatra styled his models in cashmere stoles for his FW’23 collection at the New York Fashion Week. Collaborating with Janavi India, Jyotika Jhalani’s luxury cashmere label, he created looks that blended stoles and shawls seamlessly with dresses, pantsuits and midi skirts. From a practical accessory to becoming a statement, the traditional Indian shawl is reinventing itself in dramatic ways.
Designers have been exploring the possibilities of the shawl, contemporising its scope and pushing it to the mainstream. New designs and techniques are being tried out and ancient weaves are being revived, all the while incorporating ethical practices to bring out standout pieces that not just serve as accessories, but also tell a story — of their place of origin, the people who make them and the heritage of the region.
Jyotika’s label is an ode to her birthplace, Kashmir. When she launched Janavi India in 1998, she wanted to showcase the essence of fine Indian pashmina while appealing to a global market. “I knew I wanted to create shawls that were Indian, yet international in look and feel,” she says.
EDiverse styles
Janavi India’s design aesthetic evolved thus, using Indianinspired embroidery and embellishments directly on fine pashmina. It experiments widely with styles — handpainted, printed, using classic weaves and lace and embellished with crystals and costs up to ₹1,40,000. “The shawl is so versatile. In India, every culture has one,” says Jyotika, who works with a team of 400 artisans at her atelier in Noida. “I wanted to showcase the shawl in the global market as a replacement for the trench coat and jacket. It is an easy accessory to carry and a clever one to dress up or down.”
FThe Kashmiri identity is the driving force behind designer Zubair Kirmani’s label Bounipun. Zubair moved from Delhi to Srinagar four years ago, consumed by a desire to be connected to his land. “I wanted to work with artisans, be involved in every step, use local resource and talent and showcase the premium pashmina.”
Zubair’s statement pieces in pashmina incorporate elements of ethnicity and folklore. Each motif is inspired by the region. His Karakul edit includes a piece that features the snow leopard, known to be found in central and North Kashmir. “I am trying to create something that is rooted in the Kashmiri ethos, yet bears my signature.” The Karakul range rom sled dog, Balto, who, along with his squadron saved the people of Nome from diphtheria in Alaska in 1925, to Sigmund Freud’s Chinese Chow, Jofi who became the first therapy dog — pets have been constant companions to humans.
Pet Fed celebrates this bond and love between pet owners and their companions with an annual carnival which allows the furry animals to engage in some fun and frolic, participate in contests and make new friends. This year’s edition opens at the NSIC grounds, Okhla on December 1617 with a lineup of activities. The furballs will strut in style, unleash their energy in the rockandroll play zones and put their best leg forward in the talent show.
The pet fest was launched in 2014 as a noncommercial venture by 27yearold entrepreneur, Akshay
Gupta, as an annual event in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. This year three more cities, Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh have been added. “It is a way to create, expand and strengthen a community of pet parents in India,” says Gupta.
Over the weekend show, a combination of fun and informative events have been planned. These include an offleash play zone with games, tunnels, toys and and obedience demos to allow the pets to present a better version of themselves. Live music, delectable treats and pet care stalls add to the carnival atmosphere.
An interesting feature this year is master classes for pet parents where experts in training, health, grooming, photography share their valuable inputs. Another highlight is the International Cat show to be judged by also showcases designs inspired by khatamband, a Kashmiri woodwork characterised by geometrical patterns in ceilings. It uses high quality natural pashmina which is not dyed; the colour of the shawl/stole comes from the embroidery.
“The pashmina is a complex, fascinating fabric. It reveals something new each time. We are still exploring its possibilities,” adds Zubair, who has tried wall art by repurposing pashmina shawls as wall hangings and using calligraphy on pashmina.
A similar connection to their Ladakhi roots led Stanzin Minglak and Sonam Angmo build their slow fashion label, Lena Ladakh Pashmina. “The history of pashmina and
From a practical accessory to becoming a statement, the traditional Indian shawl is reinventing itself in dramatic ways
A two-day carnival for furry friends opens at NSIC ground Okhla on December 16. office holders of the World Cat Federation (WCF) and Alliance of Cat Fanciers (ACF). Along with the cat show, there would be behaviour sessions, vet check ups among other activities.
“This is an event where one gets to learn about new breeds and improved ways of fostering a pet,” says Aakash Bhaskar, parent of Scotch, a dwarf beagle who was one of the mascots at this year’s Bengaluru edition held in November. The Delhi Pet Fed would be followed by one in Mumbai in the new year on January 13 and 14; in Pune on February 10 and 11; Chandigarh on February 24 and 25 and Hyderabad on March 16 and 17.
The event will also include an adoption drive, with camps by People for Animals (PFA) and Friendicoes. “A thorough home check of the adopter is conducted before the pet is handed over,” says Gupta. “Five dogs were adopted at our Bengaluru edition,” he adds.
Niji Varghese, who adopted an Indie dog called Manjal, now renamed Ashley says. “Dogs have been my constant companion since childhood. By taking even one home, I feel I have made a contribution and reduced the plight of at least one dog.” o bring in the festive cheer, the capital’s Dhoomimal Art Centre has a new show called Away in a Manger, which gives a contemporary twist to the traditional art and aesthetics associated with Christmas. The exhibition displays specially curated Christmas ornaments by 49 renowned artists, and largerthanlife Christmas trees with embellishments.
Georgina Maddox curated the show after the art gallery director Mohit Jain sent out invitations to artists requesting them to showcase their interpretations of Christmas. “It is wonderful to celebrate festivals in an art space; the show underlines the plurality of our nation in a lighthearted manner without losing the essence of the festivities,” says Georgina, who took three months to put it together.
In the true Yuletide spirit of giving, the exhibition offers masterful art at affordable prices, ranging from ₹8,000 to ₹30,000.
“The exhibition not only makes for a memorable journey but also is a chance to collect unique
TChristmas artworks on display at Dhoomimal art centre.
says Kohli who painted a winged angel against a starstudded sky.
Swapan
Bhandary’s work reminds viewers of the stainedglass that was typical of the preRenaissance era. In one work, he revisits Giotto’s Frescos, showcasing different episodes from Christ’s life, from birth to crucifixion.
Since childhood, Christmas always excited Megha Joshi, who believes that its spirit permeates religious differences. “I added Islamic motifs and Hindu ritual materials to the decorations, celebrating a common faith of humans,” says Megha, who has worked with her signature Rudraksh style.
Capturing the essence of the divine, Shalini Prakash created everyday items, such as a lamp, clock, and an angel, giving them a tone of the fantastical and heavenly. Tanushree Chakraborty’s mother and child (The Madonna and Baby Jesus) in her characteristic style motifs is another eyecatcher.
At the Dhoomimal Art Centre, 8-A Connaught Place; Till January 6, 2024; 11am to 7pm