... Part of a larger exhibit that is split into five galleries, each space is themed to a specific stage, mapping the evolution of textiles and craft—this isn’t some exhaustive pedantic archive, neither does it display the polyglot pluralities of every textile in the country. New Traditions: Influences & Inspirations in Indian Textiles, 1947-2017 is curated by Mayank Mansingh Kaul, who tells a story that reads more like a love letter to the various progressive movements within handmade textiles in post-independent India. He explains, “The dialogues between fashion, handcraft and textiles are important because they interact with each other more than we often assume—whether this is in terms of aesthetic influences or innovation in materials used.”

The first gallery covers the early days of khadi, complete with its political undertones and nationalism. This is followed by responses to International Modernism—between the 1960s and ’90s, murmurs of Raza and Rothko tumble into handwoven abstraction by designers Abraham & Thakore and Nelly Sethna. The next showcases experiments in Indian textiles in recent years, a conceptual vision-board where bottle cap saris and sculptural works inform new conversations, creating stunning textile installations. But it’s the final gallery where fashion’s flirtation with Indian textiles is finally consummated

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