Celebrating the Warp and Weft of Heritage

Heirloom textiles and soulful music converged at Aadyam Handwoven’s recent event, celebrating the artistry of handwoven fabrics and the overpowering connections between textiles and the performing arts.

The presentation began with the launch of the Aditya Birla Group’s social enterprise, Aadyam’s new collection, a stunning blend of brown cotton and Gadwal sarees. But the fabric wasn’t the only thing that caught the audience’s attention. Conversations about the book ‘Saris of Memory’ by cultural historian Malvika Singh wove an emotional path through handlooms in India — its past, present, and future. The launch was followed by a soulful performance of ghazals by Vandana Srinivasan of the Madras Mehfil Collective, and the haunting melodies further bound the audience to the cultural landscape the textiles represent.

Manish Saksena, business lead of Aadyam, spoke about connecting the weaver’s craft with a cultural narrative. “For me, it’s not just about a product or fabric coming out; it’s about the memories and emotions that define handloom,” he said. Growing up surrounded by handwoven textiles, his mother’s fondness for weaves from across India etched a deep connection to the craft. “Handloom was a part of my lifestyle,” he shared.

For Manish, Aadyam is a movement to reinstate the respect handloom deserves. “We continually work towards feeding the looms of our valuable artisans,” he explained. The initiative strives to offer the weaving community not just work, but a dignified livelihood. “Handloom is an art form, not just a production line,” he added.

Aadyam is also about creating sustainable futures. The latest collection features brown cotton, grown in Karnataka, which defies the norms of modern dyeing and the use of chemicals. “Brown cotton is a rebellion against the industrial cycle,” said Manish, highlighting the fabric’s naturally dyed hues and water-saving cultivation methods. The emphasis on sustainability comes alongside a push to revive traditional textiles like the Gadwal saree, once a staple of Telangana but now nearly lost.

Singer Vandana echoed these sentiments through her intimate and incredibly stirring rendition of ghazals. Wearing a saree from Aadyam herself, she expressed her admiration for the collection. “In creating a song or a garment, the colours, fabric, and melody — all come together beautifully,” she said, signing off.