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The Hindu : If you are a lover of handloom fabric, block prints and Benarasi patterns, you are bound to love this exhibition titled “Kashi-Kashmeer”.Noida-based designer Mukesh brings his collection of Chanderis, Venkatagiris, Uppadas, cottons from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, tussars from Bengal, Orissa and Maharashtra, Bangalore silks, crepes, georgettes, and more in this collection.It includes not just saris, but also, salwar-kameez set fabrics, kurtis, and exclusive dupattas. In this new collection being shown at Bangalore’s Serenity, he has been inspired by the weavers of Benaras and the jamevars and dorukhas of Kashmir.“I love weaves and do this for the love of textiles,” says Mukesh. Hindu and Moghul motifs like the lotus, the irises and roses mingle on his textiles, sometimes bordered with a hint of zari.He has also created block prints in real sterling silver and 22 carat gold, reviving an old technique of Dakhni printing.He uses both natural dyes as well as chemical ones, depending on the requirement, drawing the designs and the patterns for the block prints himself.Some of the collections use original Benaras saris as well and wools and silks from Kashmir, with work done on them. “I don’t stick to traditional colours,” he adds.The 53-year-old Mukesh began his career designing and printing saris in 1984. A graduate of the Delhi College of Art, he was more obsessed with painting till he started writing a book on the pagadi (turban) and jewellery traditions and realised the same uniqueness and characteristics applied to fabrics as well.“This profession came by fluke to me,” says Mukesh, who has also illustrated and designed books and magazines for the Children’s Book Trust. His first major collection inspired by the jamevar, was for the Central Cottage Industries Emporium in Delhi.He also collaborated on a puddupavu and kovil Collection for Co-optex in Chennai.The saris in the collection he brings to the city are priced Rs. 1,000 upward, the salwar sets…More