FT NEWS

The countdown to Diwali has begun and many have already received invites to house parties or are planning to host parties of their own. Worried about what outfits to choose for these Diwali parties? Before you head out to markets and malls to fill your shopping bags, we bring you fashion advice from experts on how to stand out this festive season. Investing in sustainable pieces that don’t just fit well in your wardrobe but also help weavers who have struggled through the pandemic are in vogue this festive season. Incorporate these handloom weaves in your wardrobe to stand out, recommend experts.

Experiment with fabrics

When it comes to weaves, don’t be afraid to experiment, say fashion experts. Don’t just stick to the tried and tested Kachi pattu alone. Pochampally and Mangalagiri are beautiful weaves that look festive without being OTT. Jamdani, Banarasi brocade, muga and tussar are suitable for the weather conditions in Hyderabad. Organza is usually a favourite for parties and khadi is also a good option to wear all year round. Anything goes for the festive season, as long as it makes you feel good.

The magic of ikat

No festival is complete without silk, so why not pick ikat silk. Pick a saree in Telangana ikat silk or even Odisha ikat. While Kanjeevaram will always find space in our wardrobes, it’s fun to switch things up and go for something more colourful and unique. Ikat is so vibrant. It’s a mix of lot of colours, which is exactly what you need during a festival. You can design and style it in any way possible. But if silk is not your style, go for cotton. And if you’re not comfortable going all out in an ikat saree, lehenga or blazer, pair that beautiful, simple saree with an ikat blouse and it’ll do just as well.

Be creative and funky

When it comes to handloom, you can pick anything you like, as long as you remember to stay careful near fire. No fabric is really safe to wear around fire, but wearing a fitted silhouette might help curb fire accidents. Go for an edgy silhouette, like an asymmetrical cut kurta in garnet purple, midnight blue, burgundy or emerald green paired with oversized pyjamas in ivory. Opt for crop or halter neck blouses and find funky ways to drape your saree. Wear sneakers if you know you’re going to be on your feet all day. Cotton is always better if you’re picking a western silhouette. Kanjeevaram or Banaras can go easily wrong, cotton is a safer bet then.

Support handloom weavers this Diwali

According to the Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Telangana has 40,533 handloom weavers (including ancillary workers) and 615 weaver cooperative societies of cotton, silk and wool. While weaving is an art that we seemed to lose to time even before the pandemic, COVID-19 has not helped matters. A lot of stores, including home-grown brands and high-end designers offer handloom outfits for the festive season. You can even head to the local TSCO store to pick up fabrics you want to customise.