A Brand Refresh - Varnanggall is back, and so is Aalayam!

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~

Sale Date: 19th of March 2017
Time : 7PM IST
Place: www.varnanggall.com

Varnanggall - An Inclusive Desi Design Brand!! (And a Giveaway!)

My Dear Aalayam family!

Hope you all had a fabulous Diwali and are continuing to bask in the afterglow of the festivities. At Aalayam, we are teeming with  colorful and inspirational posts for the remainder of the Holiday season. So hold your breath in anticipation!! we have a heartwarming Thanksgiving story coming up end of this month, and then we getaway for the holidays (tropical paradise!!), we come back to help you get ready for Christmas and the New Year!! 

But for now, it is my privilege to present to you a brand that is close to my heart. A brand that symbolizes everything that I believe in about art, culture and sustainable design. A brand that gives back. A brand that inspires. A brand that makes you fall in love!

So put your hands together for: 

Varnanggall – Where Colors, Design and Passion Unite!

“Varnanggall” is the beautiful South Indian vernacular for “colors". Not at all the jejune and inane kind of colors, but the glorious and stupendous kind of breathtaking and unprecedented color! And glorious and stupendous it is: Varnanggall -  the fledgling brand of Indian custom clothing, décor and accessories, the precocious brain child of design diva – Lavanyaa.

 Lavanyaa combines her never-miss aesthetic of color, texture and pattern into this intricately woven brand. Never before has one seen the multitude of textures and patterns combined in a harmonious way like Lavanyaa does for Varnanggall. If Ikat and Kalamkari joust playfully with each other in a saree laden with lambani mirrorwork, Block print and Zari vie for attention in a gorgeous handcrafted cushion cover. The possibilities are limitless, the joy to the designer and the customer is endless. 

This brand shows promise. Like a prodigy deserving to be nurtured. I call it "Inclusive" in the title of this post. Read on..and you will know why. The brand is invigorating, unique and refreshing. But it is for everyone. For its customers, for its artisans..and for its designer...for you and for me. 

Every Varnanggall brand extension works with the other. Lavanyaa custom creates sarees, stoles, blouses,  cholees, clutches, totes, dupattas, and ghagras as part of her repertoire of clothing. She has recently launched an earthy and organic line of cushion covers, table mats and napkins as part of  her home décor collection...these sure are flying off the shelf!

The product extensibility of Varnanggall is immense, due to the versatile and vibrant vibe of the brand. While Varnanggall has its signature design of combining variegated colors and patterns in a coherent chorus of stimulating design, the brand still works for most everyday uses.

Lavanyaa works  with  classical artists, theatre and movie personalities and the corporate 9-5ers who want to add a zing of vigor into their wardrobe, their living space or their work space! She gauges their personality, talks to them, and creates a Varnanggall piece just right for them! Like a beautiful extension of their personality.

 As trusted advisor and one of the strong advocates of this entrepreneurial venture, I often brainstorm with Lavanyaa on which market to get into and how to translate the vibe of Varnanggal to create customer delight!

And delighted they are, the customers of Varnanggall started off as being just close friends and family, but over the course of the last year, Varnanggall’s customer base has steadily grown. Homemakers, Teachers, Activists, Designers, Bloggers, Artists and Classical Dancers, have bought Varnanggall for themselves and their loved ones, never failing to compliment the quality, the attention to detail, the sheer harmony and the beauty of these “creations” Lavanyaa creates through Varnanggall. 

These Varnanggall enthusiasts have incorporated the brand into their everyday life in a profoundly intimate fashion. This is a much needed validation to any artist who burns the midnight oil creating…designing…and pouring imagination into a product that becomes part of somebody else’s life!

Ever the avid devotee of Indian Classical Temple Architecture, Lavanyaa amplifies her design impetus from the South Indian temples and the exquisite carvings that embellish the historical landscape, superbly blending in the divine sculptural beauty of the "shilabalikaas" and "devaalaya devadaasis" as ornamental motifs in her block prints and kalamkari heiroglyphics.

Lavanyaa is supported by her staunch follower and brand manager – her sister Shylaa. Loyal, hard working and creative, Shylaa brings her grounded perspectives to Lavanyaa’s dream design, acts as her eyes and ears stationed in India, while Lavanyaa grows the business internationally.

I MUST mention Lavanyaa’s best half! And a super supportive spouse – Guru, who has unwaveringly and tenaciously supported Lavanyaa in nurturing and breathing life into a brand that continues to bring excitement and joy to all of our lives! 

Stay tuned for a never before seen tour of Lavanyaa and Guru’s cozy home in London, UK...coming up in the next post of this two part series on Aalayam! This creative hearth is the couple’s headquarters where most of the magic behind Varnanggal happens!

Now, in case you still need reason why this brand is so close to my heart. It is because of 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!

 Lavanyaa gives back a significant portion of her revenue to these artists, insisting that they get the credit, monetary recognition and accolade they deserve for their hard work. She has been able to employ many talented, but little known rural artisans of South India, who breathe earthy oomph and sentience into Varnanggall. 

Not only is Lavanyaa keeping the rich , precious heritage of Indian textiles alive through her brand, she is doing so with  aplomb, and through giving back to people who deserve it!

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!

By now, I am sure you want to meet the artist behind the brand...see who she really is..know what drives her and what keeps her up at night! Well, you will not be disappointed! In our next feature, we come BACK! With Lavanyaa's exclusive interview and her HOME TOUR!!!! You will not want to miss this cozy and creative space. Trust me. So do come back!

And, here's one more reason for you to come back!! Aalayam is hosting a Giveaway once again, and this time we are collaborating with Varnanggall. 

Here are the eligibility criteria to win the Colorful Aalayam Giveaway!!

Option 1: Click on "Join this site“ widget to be a member of Aalayam . Then leave a comment on our blog about your favorite Varnanggall  product!
Option 2: If you already are a member of Aalayam , refer us to your friends, so they can become members. Then leave a comment on our blog about your favorite Varnanggall  product!

And here's a peek at the gorgeous giveaway!!! A splendid boho chic, two-sided Varnanggall occasional bag for your next desi or videsi get-together!!

Do not miss the next post - the exclusive home tour and interview of Lavanyaa, of the Varnanggall fame. And  of course the Giveaway winner announcement!! 

This lovely relationship with you dear reader is so exciting and fulfilling for me because it is a chance...to delight, to inspire and make you smile! And in the bargain, be left with a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart...I hope I made you smile today..coz I sure am feeling warm and fuzzy.

Love,

Supriya

All product inquiries to Varnanggall  - https://www.facebook.com/lavanyaakr. 

All pictures are subject to copyright. Do not copy without crediting the source! As my kids would say "That's not very nice!"