A snow leopard is an elusive sight, even in its habitat, an animal camouflaged in the Himalayan terrains of snow and stone. But to see it leaping on the length of a Banarasi sari is a rarer wonder—a figure unknown to the textile tradition’s vocabulary. It is one of the stories that Tilfi, the clothing label founded in 2016 by Aditi Chand, Udit Khanna and Ujjwal Khanna, is now bringing to the handloom stories of the Banarasi Shikargah.
In a recent exhibition in Delhi, titled ‘Heritage in Motion’, Tilfi showcased its new textiles and other design interventions through an experiential mix of textile displays and performance art. Among a mix of the brand’s various design interventions, including linen and Pashmina Banarasi and ready-to-wear, Shikargah stood out with main character energy. It wasn’t only the line of saris draped on mannequins and displayed in a gallery setting. Shikargah scenery also shone on the brass repoussé works, a recent extension from the brand incorporating another longstanding craft from Varanasi. A line of textiles showcased new design explorations while a Bharatnatyam recital, choreographed by Keelaka Dance Company with creative direction by Howareyoufeeling.studio, translated the theme into performance.
