Indian designers steal spotlight at Shop Qatar

Shop Qatar, particularly the ‘Bollywood Week’ theme, has provided a platform for Indian designers and artists not only to showcase their creativity but also “revive a dying Indian art.”
Indian celebrity designer Pallavi Jaipur told journalists that a live demonstration of a unique fabric embroidery technique from Rajasthan has been conducted in the past few days at a number of malls in Doha.
“It is reviving the dying art, an age-old technique of India where it takes a lot of painstaking challenge for all the artists, it is their livelihood, bread and butter,” she stressed, lauding the Qatar Tourism Authority for giving them the privilege of bringing in such a unique craftsmanship to the country.
“It takes hours of workmanship,” the designer noted referring to the garments and bags, as well as other items, where the embroidery was applied.
Jaipur was among the celebrity designers who took part in the Bollywood Fashion Show yesterday at Mondrian Doha as part of Shop Qatar’s Bollywood Week.
The fashion show witnessed renowned Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor walking the ramp, along with other models showcasing various contemporary Indian outfits. “I come from a heritage background, it is called the land of royals, and a lot of my clothing also depict that (unique embroidery), we’ve tried to build and bring a lot of traditional craft on to the garments,” Jaipur said.
She attributed the luxurious and beautiful looks of the outfits to the Indian artists and designers who take pride in showcasing the technique to residents and visitors in Doha.
The designer from Rajasthan also cited some similarities in Arab and Indian fashion, saying that both are “running in parallel but at the same time differ in terms of tradition and culture.”
“The Arabic fashion is also full of culture, heritage, there is a lot of dos and don’ts and so lots of dos and don’ts in our culture as well,” she said.
Shop Qatar also provides an opportunity for Arab and Indian fashion to connect further, according to Jaipur. About her visit and experience in Doha, she said the various offerings at Souq Waqif such as spices, food, souvenirs, hospitality, and the culture “bring a lot of energy.”
“There is a great vibe in the city. If I just sit down with a pencil and sketch and just have a cup of green tea, I would be able to design. With music behind, I can see my hands flowing and do a collection here and inspired by here,” she added.