On August 7, Vaishali Shadangule, the only designer in the world doing handloom couture, turned Delhi into one big love letter to Indian weaving. Vaishali’s goal? To put Indian handloom right up there with Paris and Milan, but rooted in sustainability and zero waste. Since 2001, her label has supported over 3,500 weaving families across India, revived more than 15 traditional techniques, and encouraged weavers to return to their rural homes to keep the craft alive. As she puts it: “This is art. It takes hundreds of hours, made by hand, with skills you can’t replicate anywhere else.”
Her show, NAAD – The Sound of the Looms, wasn’t your typical fashion week moment. Fresh mogra garlands everywhere, weavers sitting at looms right there on the runway, the soft clack-clack of threads becoming fabric. No pre-recorded playlist, just the real heartbeat of the craft.
Fifty-two couture looks floated past, each one months in the making. Around the room, giant textile art pieces showed off Vaishali’s signature weaves and textures, each with its own quiet power. The point was clear, this isn’t “craft” in the touristy sense. This is art. Luxury. 100% made in India.
Adding even more magic, ISVARI Jewellery brought in heirloom pieces that took over 1,000 hours to make. We’re talking gemstones sourced over decades, set in ancient Indian techniques that barely anyone in the world can still pull off. In between the fashion, dancers told the life story of handloom, thread to loom to fabric, and by the finale, the show had hit all five senses: the scent of mogra, the sound of the loom, the sight of couture in motion, the touch of silk, and yes, even taste (there were treats).
For one evening in Delhi, those threads tied centuries of tradition straight to the future of fashion.
Images: Vaishali S