It began with the steady, percussive rhythm of the handloom- a sound born from wooden panels sliding and striking to create our country’s much-loved weaves. This sound of the loom was the heartbeat behind Vaishali Shadangule’s latest couture presentation, Naad, unveiled in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, on the occasion of National Handloom Day. Before the show began, the audience was promised a showcase that engaged all five senses and Naad delivered exactly that. True to its name (‘sound’ in Hindi), the presentation was not just a fashion show; it was an immersive experience that married the tactile beauty of handwoven textiles with the sensory richness of live performance, fragrance, and history.
Opening the runway was the regal Maharani of Baroda, Radhika Raje Gaekwad, draped in a handwoven silk sari draped in a unique traditional style. What followed was a visual tapestry of India’s textile heritage: Paithani, Kanjeevaram, Jamdani, Murshidabad Silk, Banarasi, Khand, and Chanderi. These seven-storied crafts were reimagined into 52 couture looks featuring dresses, gowns, uniquely draped saris and corded lehengas. Each garment combined meticulous drapes, modern silhouettes, flora-and-fauna-inspired details, paired with the designer’s signature cording technique. The showcase yet remained rooted in the essence of handloom tradition.
For Shadangule, a meticulous handloom couturier, Naad was more than an aesthetic exercise; it was a tribute to the artisans who spend hundreds of hours on a single outfit, sustaining weaving traditions passed down through generations. ‘Artisans are the lifeline of my brand. That’s what inspired me when I started my label in 2001,’ she told Her Circle. Larger-than-life textile installations stood alongside live weavers on their looms, each thread connecting India’s past to its contemporary fashion narrative.
Adding to the richness of the showcase, ISVARI Jalandhar jewellery House presented their heirloom artisanal edit featuring pieces crafted over 1,000 man-hours, using rare gemstones sourced over decades and an ancient Indian technique of Pichai that allows jewellery to be exquisitely flexible. Paired with Vaishali S’s silhouettes, the jewellery underscored the depth of India’s craft heritage.
The entire experience was designed to engage all five senses, as the venue bloomed with fresh jasmine (mogra) garlands, their heady scent infused a sense of nostalgia. Guests received tokens of gratitude crafted from handmade silk, paper, rare gemstones, and natural elements. On stage, dancers from Sadhguru Gurukulam Samskriti School performed three expressive pieces tracing the life cycle of a textile: from ‘I am Thread’ to I am Loom’ to ‘I am Fabric.’
From choreography by Anu Ahuja to the flower-filled setting, Naad felt like an orchestration of detail and a powerful statement on the future of Indian handlooms. It illustrated how traditional weaves, when reimagined for the global couture stage, can transcend the ‘craft’ label to be recognised as art.
Shadangule’s journey has been one of both preservation and reinvention. Since founding her label in 2001, she has worked with over 3,500 weaving families across India, championed more than 15 weaving techniques from Assam to Maharashtra, and fostered reverse migration by creating sustainable livelihoods in rural regions. ‘Handloom is an integral part of India’s rural livelihood, providing employment to over 35 lakh weavers and workers. From a social perspective, an economic empowerment standpoint, and a gender lens, given that over 70 per cent of weavers are women, this sector holds immense importance. What we now need to focus on is adapting handloom traditions to make them marketable in today’s evolving global landscape,’ said Dr. M Beena, Development Commissioner for Handlooms (DCHL) within the Ministry of Textiles.
As National Handloom Day reminded us to celebrate and support the weavers who keep these traditions alive, Naad was like a vision of a future where handloom couture is not just preserved, but celebrated on the world stage.