Fabricollage: the Saree
The fabrics of Namrata draw from the French tradition of bricolage to put together different elements – fabric, dye, embroidery, hand paintings, to create unique pieces of fabric you can use for whatever you choose. The most popular use of these fabrics is to be draped as the quintessential Indian female dress – the saree. Each of these five and half yards (5 metres) of textile begin as a white piece of cloth that is either hand or machine loomed. The fabric could be a form of silk, linen, cotton or a combination of all of these. Namrata then works with the weavers to bring vibrant colors to these fabrics using a variety of dyes. The colored fabric is then worked upon by machines and weavers to add intricate designs which can be embroidered on the fabric or hand painted on the fabric to make each a unique piece of fabric bringing alive the art of Namrata. Often the fabric would have tassels attached to give it the additional look and quality. The designs are never repeated. The fabric has a section which is left free of the designs. In India, women would use the section of the fabric without designs to custom tailor a blouse. The fabric can be tailored, and upcycled, to a range of products from dresses to curtains. You can imagine whatever to be the final product, and the fabric is yours to use to express your art with the “canvas” created by Namrata. She also remains available to consult with you to make your imaginations come to life.
