I am in the mood for color. Lots of color. Fuchsia, orange and turquoise, that's how much color. Throw in sheeny shiny mirrors and a dose of vintage fashion and the festive is already added to the festive season!
Only this time it comes with a twist. It is among the first of what I am hoping will become designer collaborations. How to up cycle an old garment you cannot bear to throw away?
Kanika Bhal of Anek designs shows me how ...
Spring cleaning a while back I came across this funky kurti I was very proud to posses a few years back. Now a bit frayed and a little weathered it has been in retirement for sometime. Only I could not get myself to give it away.
Looking for ideas to do something with the garment, I thought of Kanika. A textile designer and entrepreneur who's work I have been in love with since I first saw her inventive work with traditional textiles.
A phone call, a quick trek to her cute little design studio in Andheri, Mumbai and restless wait!
Until just a few days back, right in time for Diwali, I receive this package of a kurti transformed as if by magic..
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcrhS825egQ/UmvomB336pI/AAAAAAAAC48/K5IhiSXzrTo/s640/kanika5.jpg)
Here are Kanika's tips to use when taking on a project like this :
Only this time it comes with a twist. It is among the first of what I am hoping will become designer collaborations. How to up cycle an old garment you cannot bear to throw away?
Kanika Bhal of Anek designs shows me how ...
Spring cleaning a while back I came across this funky kurti I was very proud to posses a few years back. Now a bit frayed and a little weathered it has been in retirement for sometime. Only I could not get myself to give it away.
Looking for ideas to do something with the garment, I thought of Kanika. A textile designer and entrepreneur who's work I have been in love with since I first saw her inventive work with traditional textiles.
A phone call, a quick trek to her cute little design studio in Andheri, Mumbai and restless wait!
Until just a few days back, right in time for Diwali, I receive this package of a kurti transformed as if by magic..
Then snazzy ethnic top ...
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm0fiH_CEMM/UmvSpO0WJaI/AAAAAAAAC4U/KYd1_1S_cHs/s640/kanika.jpg)
Now, fun funky accent pillows!!
The garment has come a long way indeed.
Five pillows, one batua and it does not end here! I have been kept waiting for a surprise which is till in the making ! How much fun can one sqeeze out of a single garment ?
Kanika explains her choices of color and detail, " I picked Rani ( it should be the Indian national colour) as the main colour and added orange and teal to compliment. Rani was present in the original printed kurti as well, so I just picked up on it. I used my signature potlis along with traditional Gujarati triangular trims
to add detail and an element of fun. I made the cushions in assorted sizes so that they can be used in various settings."
And here are three ways of glamming up a corner of the house, vintage fashion style then:
Against a neutral crisp white..
Cool boho turquoise love...
Warm and punchy festive splash..!
The limitless goodness does not stop here. There is also a delightful little pouch made from left over fabric. Set against the warrior princess tray from another powerhouse of talent, Vineeta Nair it makes quite a picture. Non?!
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcrhS825egQ/UmvomB336pI/AAAAAAAAC48/K5IhiSXzrTo/s640/kanika5.jpg)
Here are Kanika's tips to use when taking on a project like this :
12 comments:
Ultra fabulous!!! Both Kanika and you :)
Wonderful! And the colour is just right :-)
Such a gorgeous makeover! brilliant idea, both of you!
Lovely! Beautifully done by Kanika.
Mom's old silk sarees are my festive cushion covers:-)
I am very intrigued by the Jaali work outside your window.
Arch
clever!!
~deepa
Thanks all. Kanika's sense of colour and attention to finish and detail is what made the project such a joy to be part of.
Arch: The saree cushions must look so stunning!
the jaali is part of the building facade. Old buildings have little quirks like these sometimes.
Beautiful. I feel I am commenting after 3 years. And maybe I am. But this was just too precious to pass up. Fantastic work. And what a killer collaboration. My personal favourite is the piece which has the neckline of the dress. Sen.sa.tion.al.
And thank you for that unexpected mention at the end of it all.
loved them all!
Please link to Designing Life's 1st Linking Party!
http://tinyurl.com/l3yqxkt
Love that idea... wonderfully executed. I can't wait to rush to my sewing machine and cook up something :-)
Very inspiring, Kanika, and what colours :)))))
Hi Chandan.... what a beautiful blog... instantly in love... following you...
http://www.nicksnacksbyme.blogspot.com/
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