Indian handloom remains the focal point of this designer's couture collection

India’s cultural legacy is a tapestry woven from centuries of history, artistry, and storytelling — each region carrying its own distinct language, cuisine, festivals, and craft. Nowhere is this heritage more vividly expressed than in Indian textiles, where every weave, motif, and dye reflects the soul of its land. On the occasion of a celebration of India’s most treasured heritage – the handloom, internationally acclaimed couturier Vaishali Shadangule, intuitively commemorates the day with her bespoke collection in the capital city. 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and the Development Commissioner for Handlooms (DCHL), she showcased "NAAD - The Sound of the Looms", a couture retrospective of handloom. 
Known globally for her signature cording techniques and as the world’s only “handloom couturier,” Vaishali S curated an evening where craftsmanship and luxury intertwined seamlessly. Graced by Maharani of Baroda Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Dr. M Beena (Development Commissioner for Handlooms), and Smt. Neelam Shami Rao (Secretary of Textiles), the showcase stood as a testament to the quiet power of artisans who dedicate lifetimes to create a single masterpiece. 

A runway that spoke in threads

The runway came alive with 52 couture looks, each one a living canvas of India’s handwoven textiles. These were not mere garments; they were chapters in an epic saga of tradition, skill, and cultural preservation. The silhouettes bore the weight of centuries-old techniques from states like Assam, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Karnataka — reimagined for the modern global stage.

Larger-than-life textile installations framed the venue, each a tactile sculpture representing the philosophy of the Vaishali S couture universe. Around these installations, weavers sat at traditional looms, working live during the show. Their rhythmic motions — warp and weft intertwining — became both a visual poem and a symbolic gesture: threads of history woven into the fabric of today.

“We are showing the world that this work is made in India, by hand, out of skills passed down for generations,” she shared. “It is 100% sustainable. We want the world to see this as art, not just craft.”

Since founding her label in 2001, Vaishali S has supported over 3,500 weaving families, fostering reverse migration back to rural India. By bringing couture-level recognition to handlooms, she bridges past and future — ensuring ancient techniques find relevance on Paris runways as much as in Indian ateliers.

A feast for the senses

True to its name, “NAAD – The Sound of the Looms” engaged all five senses. The ambient soundtrack of looms weaving live became the heartbeat of the event. The air was infused with the intoxicating scent of fresh mogras, garlands of which were draped elegantly across the venue and gifted to each guest — a fragrant reminder of nostalgia and pure, pious moments. On every seat lay tokens crafted from handmade silk, paper, rare gemstones, and natural elements, offering a tactile connection to the evening’s narrative.

Even sight and movement became part of the storytelling. Dancers from Sadhguru Gurukulam Sanskriti School in Coimbatore performed three evocative pieces:

I am Thread — symbolising fragile beginnings, potential waiting to be realised.

I am Loom — the rhythm and structure of transformation.

I am Fabric — emergence into form, purpose, and beauty.

We're living in an era dominated by fast fashion. The era, although in the midst of an awakening for sustainability, still largely chases trends. Vaishali S, through her beliefs and designs, hence, reminds us that luxury lies in the evocative experience of the slow, meditative hands of the Indian artisan, who patiently stitch and weaveIndian handloom into the vocabulary of global couture.