A couple of months ago I went to Mumbai and saw this gorgeous Maheshwari organza silk fabric at the Women Weave office. Anyone who knows my taste in textiles knows that I love woven designs more than printed ones, whether it’s ikat or woven checks or jamdaani. When I saw this beautiful fabric with the subtle colour combinations, I knew I had to incorporate into the Spring Collection for 2010.
These photos are taken with the fabric folded over itself in layersWhat I didn’t realize, until a few days ago when I received the fabric, was how the checks and the light green colours don’t show up very well in a single layer. This error on my part was probably due to my excitement over the fabric as a whole (the texture, the body, the depth) during the ordering stage, as opposed to thinking practically about how it would work in a garment. It’s tough though: when you’re in an office placing orders you can’t always imagine how that fabric will lend itself to the garment you have in mind.
Before the fabric arrived I thought I’d make a strappy dress with slight gathers or ruching at the side seam. I had a goldish-tussar coloured silk lining in mind for the green organza. But yesterday when I put it against the lining the green organza looked so drowned out in a single layer.
This is what the fabric looks like in a single layer placed over a gold-tussar coloured silkThe colour of the organza by itself is gorgeous- perfect, in my opinion, for a spring collection. I just need to figure out, very quickly, what lining is going to bring out the colours best, or if I should change the style completely to use two layers of the organza (which means a more expensive dress).
8 comments:
Anaka, I am no expert but looking at that fabric, do you think a dark, contrasting colour like turquoise blue or purple would work better? But I suppose you run the risk of overwhelming the organza completely.
Hey Vidya,
I tried placing the fabric on a turquoise blue and because the blue was so strong you could barely notice the layer of green organza on top. I'm thinking maybe a cream colour.. or maybe have sections of the dress that have pleats or folds where you can two layers of the organza.
This reminds me of the dress that Sharapova wore at this year's Australian open. It was a navy blue weave She had used a bright yellow lining under it. So you could try a complimentary color of the color wheel as a lining. It may help bring out the pattern of the weave. let me know if this works for you.
Hi Kalyani,
That's a great idea, and I hadn't thought of it. I was going to order another shade of green.. something between a green tea type of green and a teal green. But maybe a shade of violet could work. Let me try with fabrics I have in that family and let you know! Thank you :)
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Hi Kalyani,
I took pics of the green maheshwari on purple/lavender silk but it looked too dark. The green just got washed out. I'm going with a green silk lining for this one.
i read all about women weave yesterday anaka. they're doing some fabulous stuff... and you're doing something good too by buying their stuff!
Maybe using a pale lime or a periwinkle might bring out the checks?
You might have tried this option, but why not visit you local sari blouse matching center and try all the combinations suggested for the underling!
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