Book on saris to be released in London

National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad is happy to announce the first and international release of its latest publication, Indian Saris: Traditions – Perspective – Design authored by Vijai Singh Katiyar, Senior Faculty, NID. The book launch is scheduled at the Nehru Center, London on 20th April 2009. The event coincides with the ‘London Book fair’ where India is the theme country this year.

The book is co-published by NID and the Wisdom Tree, New Delhi. It celebrates the meaningful engagement of contemporary Indian design with the traditional handloom industry of India. This visually delightful book rediscovers the handwoven sari, an iconic traditional product of India for its conceptual strengths that are relevant to the contemporary scenario. The book is the culmination of the author’s extensive experience of nearly two decades.

The book will be released at the hands of The Baroness Flather of Windsor and Maidenhead, JP DL FRSA during the above mentioned function at the Nehru Center, London. The event is aimed to motivate the international design fraternity to further the cause of the handlooms and the contemporary Indian design. The event is also expected to be attended by NID’s partner institutions from U.K. and pave the ways for much closer future ties between the design fraternities of India and UK.

The release of the book is scheduled at 7pm on 20th April 2009. Coinciding with the event, a panel discussion is also being organised on the theme, ‘Design for Indian Textiles & Fashion: Tradition to Modernity — a UK - India deliberation’. Six eminent design experts from U.K. and India will offer their views on the subject.

Panelists from UK are Dr Eiluned Edwards, London College of Fashion/Victoria & Albert Museum’s Senior Research Fellow; Sophie Roet, Consultant Designer - Textile & Fashion, Clockwork Studios, London; Karen Spurgin, Consultant Designer - textile & fashion; Co-founder, ao textiles, London; and Prof. Jimmy Stephen-Cran, Head of Department – Textiles, The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow.