I have been on a blog sabbatical these past
few months. Mostly because I have not had to mojo to write anything. I used to
think it was the lack of time that kept me away from beloved Aalayam.
But you
know something, once you get the inspiration, it’s easy to make the time.
And this time, it was really hard not be
inspired by this comeback story. Yes, Lavanyaa, of the Varnanggall fame, is back - with “Kannadi”, her new line of bespoke blouses,
sarees and home décor that incorporate the multi-hued lambani work.
The Banjara (also called Gor, Lambani, Vanjara and Gormati) are a community usually described as nomadic
people from the northwestern belt of the Indian subcontinent (from Afghanistan
to the state of Rajasthan) now spread out all over India.
Banjara art is
rich and includes performance arts such as dance and music to folk and plastic
arts such as rangoli, textile embroidery, tattooing and painting. The Banjara
embroidery and tattooing are especially prized and also form a significant
aspect of the Banjara identity. Lambani women specialize in lepo embroidery which involves stitching pieces of mirror,
decorative beads and coins onto clothes.
Frequent
Aalayam readers will remember Lavanyaa and her creative journey, her brainchild
Varnanggall (see here), and her signature creations that have left many a gorgeous lady
feeling more in tune with her inner goddess. I for one, always feel my beautiful
best, when I don a Varnanggall.
It’s something about the sensual mix of the
fabrics, textures, colors that brings out the dusky diva in me. I am sure
others who own or have adorned pieces from the Varnanggall line feel the same.
If
the pictures in this blog post are any testament (some pictures are staged,
some are candid), you will see the inner confidence and beauty radiate from
within all women wearing a Varnanggall.
For women of all social strata, we know that
in today’s day and age it is important to let that inner confidence shine
through… To stay resolute in the midst of naysayers, to remain steadfast in the
face of challenges and stubborn obstacles.
And to remain poised in the hubbub of
the world’s gargantuan expectations.
That confidence lets us be ourselves,
present our best faces to ourselves, etch a personality that is unique and
memorable, a personality that shapes our temperament and our legacy, so we leave
behind to our daughters a persona of strength, beauty, and belief that we can
do anything we aspire to do, be anything we aspire to be.
This philosophy is not about looking beautiful.
Beauty that is skin deep, and not a derivative of inner confidence and peace,
is insignificant. This philosophy is about feeling beautiful – no matter what
size, what shape, what color or what age.
This beauty is empowering. It’s a
reflection of the power of woman. This is the philosophy of Varnanggall ...and quite honestly, of Lavanyaa.
And I
am proud to be writing about this brand once again, here at Aalayam.
Reiterating why this brand is so close to my
heart, it's the sustainable design model that
Lavanyaa has embraced. She works with the unsung heros of kalamkari,
lambani and block print..the actual weavers and artisans, traveling to their
home base, eliminating middle men, bringing never seen before quality, design
and exquisite crafstmanship to our homes! Empowering women at every step of the
supply chain.
Lavanyaa has been through a personal
evolution. A lot of change has punctuated her life in the last couple of years
since she was last featured here in Aalayam. She has moved continents, transitioned
into a whole new paradigm personally, and philosophically. However, one thing
that has remained constant, is her passion and commitment to creating signature
Varnanggall designs.
Aalayam spoke to this enigmatic artiste about
her latest line – Kannadi, and this is what she has to say.
" Kannadi is about Varnanggall’s revival and exploration with the
bona fide "Lambani" tribe of Karnataka – an art that is nomadic and
kaleidoscopic. Varnanggall showcases ancient Indian motifs with bright and intensive hand embroidery. Our artists have taken about 3-4 months to put
together a complete "Kannadi" collection - beyond any doubt a package
of patience and commitment.
I hope I’ve made complete justice to this divine
artistry while weaving them into my creative brain :-) "
"At times when the tides are changing in your personal space, you
tend to pause a bit and perhaps relook at life on how you can realign
your professional goals to function better! And that’s how I was on a creative
hiatus for about two years. “Birds of a feather flock together!” -
as always my ever supporting family and good bunch of friends for life who were
around , these are the people who have constantly been lending credibility to
my dreams and goals."
" During this period I traveled extensively, spent time alone
and worked on auditing my brand, and I was instigated on how I could restate the
brand's mission statement without hampering the aesthetics tied to it. First
thing first, to reinforce the loyalty that existing customers feel, second, provide them with an easy and user friendly shopping experience, third, sticking
to your principles and maintaining an enduring brand value.
At the outset I
felt I was going to bite off more than I could chew, but hey, here I am, back on the
horse forging stronger bonds with my creative journey! "
Well, that was simple...yet profound.
In all
the rush of everyday life, we do not pause to see if we have made someone
smile, if someone will remember us for making their day brighter. I deem
Lavanyaa is doing that...making someone smile..making someone's day brighter..
not just to us with her brand, but also to these rural artists whose labor of
love we adorn, embrace and enjoy.
The brand value and
goodwill Varnanggall is earning as a result of these smiles is
....PRICELESS! More power to you with Kannadi, Lavanyaa. We love you.
~KANNADI 2017~
