India has a rich history in carpet and is believed to be home to some of the most highly skilled weavers of the world. It was extrenely exciting for me to work in the carpet industry. Jaipur Rugs is India’s largest manufacturer of hand knotted rugs. It has a network of over 40,000 skilled artisans in rural India. It links the grass roots to the most elite and luxurious icons of the world. During my graduation project I design three collections for Jaipur Rugs. The first collection called ‘The Tales of Ajanta and Ellora’, draws inspiration from the timeless elegance and cultural grandeur of the Ajanta and Ellora caves paintings and carvings. With my collection, I wanted to replicate the intricate details and vivid colours found in the cave art while incorporating modern elements that create a unique visual experience.This collection will be a part of their high quality hand knotted range. Adding to the same range is a handloom collection, which is also inspired by the same theme. I wanted to explore different techniques and see how different design could be created using the same inspiration. Seated outside Jaipur Rugs’ design studio, me and the weaver, Mr. Azad spent hours together on the hand loom, bringing life to new and original ideas. His expertise and proficiency in the craft helped me explore innovative forms and techniques, and try out novel perspectives. Our active and agile imagination intended at making the process less labour intensive. Another interpretation of my ideation is the work on a tufted and Indo Nepali rug collection called ‘Nostalgia Reverie’.This collection embraces the architectural tapestry of Kolkata coupled with a retro and vintage aesthetic that transports us to a world of nostalgia, evoking memories of an elegant and glamorous past.
