KESAR EDIT | 2026
Kesar, or saffron, lends its name to this collection, drawing from the warmth of orange and its place in the colour vocabulary of the subcontinent. An exploration of colour and craft, Kesar Edit brings together the traditional art of Bandhani with the fluidity of paper lawn, translating a singular colour inspiration into three distinct lehenga cholis.
Bandhani, derived from the Sanskrit word bandh, meaning to tie, is an ancient resist-dyeing tradition in which fabric is gathered and bound at numerous points before being dyed, revealing intricate patterns once the bindings are released. Practised across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Sindh, the craft carries a rich vocabulary of colour, pattern and cultural memory.
At the heart of Kesar Edit is the interplay of narangi, gulabi and firozi. The Aabha pairs a narangi paper lawn lehenga and silk Bandhani dupatta with a red choli, its red piping placed above the hem to lend weight and volume to the flare. Gulnar brings together a gradual wash of narangi and gulabi across the paper lawn lehenga, with an orange choli and gulabi silk Bandhani dupatta. Neelam introduces a contrasting composition of firozi paper lawn and silk Bandhani, punctuated by a narangi choli.
Through these compositions, Kesar Edit explores the meeting of colour, textile and tradition. Rooted in the shared cultural vocabulary of the subcontinent, the collection brings together the vibrance of Bandhani and the lightness of paper lawn in a contemporary expression of Ganga Jamni.
Musical reference: “Kesariya Balam Padharo Mare Des,” as performed by Gavri Devi ji, served as an accompanying musical reference throughout the conception and development of this collection.