There once lived a little girl who loved to play dress up. In the afternoon, when everyone was asleep, she would go to her mother’s room, take out her sarees and tie them around herself. She would pull out her jewelry boxes and put on earrings and necklaces one after another. She would apply red lipstick and pose and preen in front of the mirror. She never got tired of doing this and for those couple of hours, she felt like a princess. Years went by and the little girl grew up. From a “princess”, she turned into a “tomboy”. She got a “boys cut” hairstyle, she loved watching WWF and practiced the moves on her brother, boxing became her favorite sport after watching Rocky IV nearly twenty times, and she turned up her nose at anything girly. The dress up days were long gone.
From the tomboy teens, the girl entered college. She was overweight and to hide that, she wore baggy t-shirts, skirts and kurtas all the time. On formal occasions, her mother would try and persuade her to wear a saree but she would refuse. She was once told by a friend that she should never wear sarees coz she looked terrible in them and she could never forget that remark. She loved sarees though. Her mother would take her along for saree shopping and she loved to sit inside the store admiring the different styles, the designs, the fabrics. Her favorites were always the traditional and handloom sarees. The taants, the kaanthas, the kanjeevarams, the tussars. They represented regional traditions, culture and history. They told the “Qissaas” of a bygone era and today and the promise of tomorrow.
The shy, insecure girl slowly grew up to be a confident, mature woman. She started working, she had long hair, she became more fashionable and revelled in her femininity. Her friends were amazed at the transformation. They were even more amazed when she became a beauty and fashion blogger. They called her the “dark horse”.
The woman is still overweight but she is comfortable with her body. She finally got rid of her insecurities and embraced the saree. She loves how it hugs her curves, how beautiful it makes her feel. From being told that she looked hideous in one, everyone now says that she looks her best in a saree. Her favorites are still the traditional and handloom ones. To her, the weave, the warp, the weft tells a tale. It is a living testimony to the skill and deft manipulations of the weaver. It speaks of the transformation of the humble cocoon, the cotton pods to fabric – to cover, to adorn, to keep warm to tempt, to lure.
Here is that woman’s ode to the six yards of grace and elegance in Qissaa creations. Sarees that describe the Indian yarn, designs, colours, textures, symbolism, prints and surface ornamentation. In a sense, the Indian sensibility!
Nakshi kantha, a type of embroidered quilt, is a centuries-old Bengali art tradition.The basic material used is thread and old cloth. The colourful patterns and designs that are embroidered resulted in the name “Nakshi Kantha”, which was derived from the Bengali word “naksha”, which refers to artistic patterns.
Tussars have an earthy feel. The fabric breathes and can be worn in summer also. Tussar silk is considered more textured than cultivated or “mulberry” silk. It has a dull gold sheen. Down to earth!
Twist in the Tale
Original Indian weaves, fabrics , chintz, designs, cut pasted and embroidered. Patchwork, contrast borders, mix n match embellishments are the hallmarks. The essence is Indian.
Besides these and many more gorgeous drapes, Qissaa offers handmade jewelry and other accessories. Each of them an heirloom. A collectible. A rarity. To know more about Qissaa, follow them on Facebook.
Amrita Priyadarsini says
I am just so proud to read and visualize every word. I have gone through the exact same caterpillar to butterfly transformation. I am curvy and love the family pack I sport and work out to be fit and nothing else. Well written you beautiful woman, your write up oozes confidence 🙂
Dolon says
Thank you so much Amrita. This post is absolutely ‘dil se’. <3
Vibha Mitra says
I loved your write up. Very pretty and the pout just right 🙂
Dolon says
Thank you Vibha 😀