Jamawar

Revival of the Royal Shawl

A collaboration with Raina's for Autumn & Winter Collection of 2021

www.rainas.in

This project is a tribute to the rich craftsmanship that once flourished, caught the attention of the royals, reached its zenith and then got reduced a relic, presumably because of the indefinitely long time and effort each weaver had to devote to build it.

Originally made in Kashmir, the Jamawar robe built with Pashmina, was all things rich, royal and exquisite. Most of the designs flaunted very intricate florals, with the kairy as the predominant motif. Historically, some shawls took a couple of decades to complete; consequently, original Jamawar shawls are very highly valued. The early 19th century saw a major innovation in the in the form of embroidery to be used to enhance and embellish the woven designs. However, by the end of the century, the art of Jamawar weaving had begun to wane. With industrialization, urbanization and the quickening tempo of modern life, reduced this beautiful art to a relic. Jamawars survived only as valuable and cherished antiques in a few homes and museums.

In an attempt to revive the beautiful art of Jamawar, I present my original design collection of Jamawar prints in the form of Dupatta Shawls, developed in collaboration with Raina's for their Autumn & Winter Collection of 2021.

1. Paisley Boota on Wine

Jamawar Shawl Style Dupatta (100''x36'')