ArticalExpo
Ravita Mayor makes her debut in the city showcasing traditional weaves, reports Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
For once, Indian weaves are getting their due. Both established and emerging designers found it fashionable to create new lines that made use of Indian weaves in 2011. Globally, the fashion forecast for Spring 2012 foresees a return to ikat or as they term it, ‘incredible ikat'. Designer Ravita Mayor, who recently moved base to Hyderabad, didn't lay her hands on ikat merely because it's in vogue. She has been specialising in weaves for a decade, designing corporate and couture wear with Maheshwaris, Sambalpuri ikats and woven fabrics from North East.
By choice, Ravita focuses on weaves. “Indian weaves are fascinating. Years ago, my first few collections focussed on Assamese weaves and Maheshwaris. The seven North Eastern states themselves have such a variety of weaves,” says Ravita, who grew up in Assam before moving to Baroda. She remembers helping her school teachers with their wedding gowns but never though she'd end up pursuing fashion. In Baroda, she graduated in industrial sociology. “After college, I realised I wanted to be a designer,” she reminisces.
Her first tryst with fashion happened by chance. “I was at a hotel in Goa when a lady from Washington walked up to me and said she liked what I was wearing. She was surprised that I had designed it myself and requested me to do a collection for her boutique in Washington. That's how I started working on Maheshwaris.” She then diversified her portfolio and her collections were available in London, Glitterati in Mumbai, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, and Ffolio outlets under the label Cocoon.
Amidst all this, she fine-tuned her skill with a summer course in fashion technology from the New York University. “I got to interact with top designers there and learnt about designing clothes and accessories,” she says. An additional course from Gemmological Institute of America put her in good stead.
Moving to Hyderabad, she began designing corporate wear for Taj Deccan and the Taj Falaknuma Palace. She designs prêt wear for corporates and couture for individual clients with a sharp eye for detail. The hallmark of a good designer lies in the finish of the garment and Ravita scores on that front. “I hate monotony. I like to experiment with weaves on different fabrics,” she says. Evidence to this was the event on Saturday evening at Taj Deccan, where she showcased five different lines. Her experiments came to the fore through evening gowns with ikats on Italian chiffons, complimented by her line of handmade jewellery with woven fabrics. The traditional line showcased saris and Assamese mekhla chadars made from Assamese weaves in gold zari on paat, kesa paat and muga silks.
Ravita also showcased short dresses, evening gowns, a corporate line and a men's line. A ‘fabric round' highlighted the rich, hand-woven fabrics from different parts of the country, artfully draped to bring out their glory.
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