Benarasi in her hands always attains a greater level of versatility as a weave every time she launches a new collection. City-based designer Pinki Sinha’s new collection Jugalbandi is a testament to that. The various traditional crafts of India, their vibrancy and intricacy of motifs and patterns have always fascinated her as a designer. After exploring colours, patterns and fabrics in the past eight years of her love affair with Benarasi, she finally decided to amalgamate her love for the various traditional crafts of India as patterns and motifs with the traditional weave of Benarasi in her latest summer launch from her label Vishwa by Pinki Sinha. The simplicity the weave attains in this experimentation is sure to surprise, and its versatility as a summer-friendly weave is bound to entice. The designer’s concept is aptly complemented in this t2 shoot with the old-Calcutta charm of Calcutta Bungalow’s restored property, Abhijit Paul’s subtle make-up with nude shades and balancing the glam factor of the Benarasi weave with an innovative touch in every look instead of accessorising with jewellery, stylist Anupam Chatterjee’s versatile drapes and Bibriti’s mellow grace. The lookbook:
On the subdued shade of olive green, Pinki explores the intricacy of the kalamkari craft through its motifs and patterns, with silver zari and resham work on Muga silk.
Bengal’s jamdani motifs with an all-over floral pattern add a colourful touch to this white silk Benarasi. The vintage Ambassador in the background adds to the classic and classy Calcutta feel in this frame.
Why restrict the colourful phulkari to the dupatta? Pinki plays around with the vibrant craft of Punjab in geometric patterns on this summer silk. Resham and golden zari used to create the patterns add a vibrant touch to the sari.
The classic Benarasi becomes more summer-friendly as it is woven in flowy georgette for the summer look and feel. The Firoza green shade adds to the summer feel further.
The magnificent paithani of Maharashtra marries the opulent Benarasi in this pink summer silk, glammed up with resham and zari work on the border and palla. Abhijit Paul’s nude make-up with a touch of gold foil on the skin further glams up the gorgeous look.
The patola pattern from Gujarat in dual tones of silver and gold zari gets an extra dose of grace in this Benarasi weave, designed in shades of summer green. The brick wall perfectly complements the play of green in the frame.
I have been working with Benarasi for over eight years now. I wanted to do something different. So, I thought of bringing various crafts of India together in one collection. I think it has been a dream come true for me because I have been able to bring so much together. I love to modernize Benarasi. Through this collection, I wanted to capture the diversity of crafts in India and the power of women in Indian looks. Indian women have always been very feminine and very powerful — a thought we wanted to express through this collection — Pinki Sinha, designer
Styling: Anupam Chatterjee
Make-up: Abhijit Paul
Hair: Sananda Mondal Laha
Location: Calcutta Bungalow
