Draped in Wellness

From Aloe Vera-Treated Apparel To Anti-Microbial Bedsheets, Wellness Moves Beyond Food And Beauty

- Ajita Shashidhar

Ever since Bangalore-based designer Deepika Govind stepped into the world of fashion almost two decades ago, her quest has been to make our age-old hand- looms not just wearable but also fashionable. “I have tried to make India’s textile heritage relevant to today’s youth.”

Many would agree that the beautiful handwoven Khadi silk sari is often not comfortable enough to wear. In fact, most Indian handwoven fabrics are not appropriate for garments, putting them at a huge disadvantage when it comes to marketing them in global fashion circuits. This is exactly what Govind has tried to address with the use of innovative weaving techniques. She has popularised techniques such as silk-modal weaving. A natural fibre obtained from the bark of a tree, modal when blended with any fibre, makes the garment softer and gives a better drape. From western outfits to stoles and saris, Govind has been trying to make our age-old handloom story aspirational.

In 2007, the designer decided to take a step forward by treating her hand woven fabrics with essential oils such as tea-tree and pine that have immense therapeutic values. She created a line of aroma saris, garments and accessories. The aroma is the result of a treatment done at both the yarn and fabrics stage. She also resorted to anti-bacterial treatments for her fabrics, making them allergy-free. “I have always believed that aesthetics and innovation should walk together, especially in the art of fashion. There seems no point in creating garments or textiles that are not visually appealing or flattering to the wearer. Likewise, I think comfort is a prime (often neglected) factor in fashion today. Style with comfort is vital to the wearer,” says Govind.