Pictures from Delhi Launch on 11.11.2009

After the wonderful success post the London launch held earlier in April, whereby Indian Saris : Traditions - Perspective - Design has caught the fancy of art, design and fashion lovers across UK, Europe and United States – not just the visitors at the Manhattan Barnes & Noble Bookstore but also at the museum shops like the British Museum Bookshop – Wisdom Tree and NID launched the book in Delhi at a glittering event co-hosted by the Craft House and Chivas.


The young generation of achievers – Bhavana Reddy, Monisha Gupta, Nida Mehmood and Ruchi Goyal Kaura wore their favorite saris and shared their special relationship with it, providing an interesting take on the future of Indian saris.


Shilpa Das, Head - Publications at NID conveyed the vote of thanks.


Maharani Chandresh Kumari, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha launched the book in the presence of well known fashion designer Ritu Kumar.


Vijay Singh Katiyar, the author of the book added, “My engagements with the handloom sector as designer and the first hand insights derived, necessitated me to do this book. Design and its comprehensiveness play a vital role in the growth and development of the handloom sector. Usually the sari and its traditions have been studied and described more from the socio-cultural perspectives. Holistic understanding of sari as a product and its tacit relationship with the user is the focus. My endeavour is to present the sari and its nuances afresh from a designer’s perspective for the benefit of common audience. Design elements from the traditional practice of sari can contribute immensely for the future growth of the creative industries in many innovative ways. This book has been a labour of love for me and I am humbled by the amazing response readers have sent from across the globe.”


Leading fashion designer Ritu Kumar stressed about the need and approaches to carry forward exceptional traditional skills and vocabulary in meaningful ways.


Maharani Chandresh Kumari also brought and showed some exquisite textiles from her royal family collection. The gesture was applauded by all present.


Commenting on the interesting co-publication Pradyumna Vyas, Director NID stated, “The success of this book and the acclaim it has received has encouraged us to give a renewed impetus to our publishing program and you will soon see many more beautiful books emanating from NID. It has been a wonderful experience working together with Wisdom Tree and we look forward to a long relationship with them.”


Commenting on the success of the book, Shobit Arya, Publisher Wisdom Tree said, “Indian saris is an epitome of Indian ness and this brilliantly illustrated and thoroughly researched book does full justice to the great Indian fabric which has draped the beautiful Indian woman for hundreds of years. Deservedly, it has already gone into a reprint even before its first India launch.”

Indian Saris lends a new dimension to the way the traditional Indian sari is looked at, and upholds it as an epitome of holistic design with a unique creative expression. In the backdrop of Indian social-cultural and economic ethos, the book unfolds the mesmerising woven yards of the sari, the quintessential piece of garment that has draped the Indian woman since time immemorial.

The volume, with over 892 visuals, aims to delight and enrich the aesthetic experience of the reader with information on a wide range of saris from both the past and the present and ultimately introduces the contemporary design initiatives taking place in the sector. It enumerates the fascinating accounts of the sari’s traditional significance, the diverse styles of weaving, design vocabulary, and even the myriad styles of draping found across the sub-continent. It is indeed a glowing tribute to the magic flowing out of the deft hands of the Indian weaver and to the undeterred artistic spirit of the sari.

Wisdom Tree is an independent Indian publishing organisation that believes in creating books that are Indian in essence and global in appeal. Wisdom Tree books reach across the globe having been translated into several foreign languages and being sold in all the English speaking countries of the world. Eminent and acclaimed writers who have chosen Wisdom Tree to showcase their work include Karan Thapar, Shubha Mudgal, Kapila Vatsyayan, Amit Dasgupta, Ashwani Lohani, Suresh Oberoi, Jaya Jaitly, Bharat Thakur, Sonal Mansingh and H.Y. Sharadaprasad, among others.