Vaishali S Couture Fall 2021
“Bodies are like fabric to me and thread is like a breath,” Vaishali Shadangule said just before her first show as a guest designer on the Paris couture calendar for her label Vaishali S, established more than 20 years ago in India.
While she was recovering from COVID-19, the designer was struck by the parallel between breath, a biological function so universal and instinctive that it isn’t thought about much until air runs out; and thread, an equally essential component of the fashion industry.
More from WWD
This became the inspiration for a collection where she showcased the wealth of the Indian textile tradition, far beyond the embroideries widely used in the global fashion industry, on silhouettes inspired by the plant world.
For these asymmetric curving shapes that skimmed but never constrained the body, she used fabrics such khand, a lightweight weave from Northern India traditionally used for sarees; Chanderi, a sheer fabric with a glossy sheen that originates from Shadangule’s home region of Madhya Pradesh; or a gossamer thin merino wool weave that felt as light as air, yet warm. Her signature technique of cording, using long hand-rolled cords made from her textiles, became both embellishment and a structural element, winding around hips and limbs or outlining the shape of a garment.
But showing in Paris wasn’t just a personal achievement for the designer. At a moment where India’s textile sector is facing a crisis due to the pandemic, Shadangule also felt a responsibility toward the families — around 900, spread all over the country — that are dependent on her business. “I wanted to show the beautiful textiles, the fabrics we make by hand, choosing our own threads. In this difficult time, [by showing in Paris] I can give them some hope,” she said.
Launch Gallery: Vaishali S Couture Fall 2021
Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
