Usha Silai

The Kashmir Collection, created for the Usha Silai label under the mentorship of Rohit Bal that was showcased at Lakme Fashion Week in January this year, will be available at the designer’s store in Defence Colony, New Delhi. The collection has been created by rural women of Usha Silai School Kashmir under the able mentorship of the ace designer, reiterating the brand’s long term vision and commitment to preserving local crafts and empowering women.

The collection, is an ode to the magnificent beauty of flowers of Kashmir, an interpretation of absolute beauty in its purest form. Rohit Bal, along with the rural women of Kashmir, recreates the intoxicating allure of flowers through different techniques including thread embroidery, gold wire, zardozi, while giving it an imaginative yet realistic interpretation. This collection is both sensitive and ornate with an underlying sense of luxury interwoven in its many layers. It makes use of organic fabrics, cotton silk blends, chanderis, silk organzas, silks and velvets.

All profits earned on the Usha Silai label garments are ploughed back to these women, enabling them to earn up to INR 5,000 per garment. This additional income is transforming their lives by helping their families access better education, nutrition, and medical aid.