“We are Indians, firstly and lastly.” – B.R. Ambedkar

This saying is the very basis of our Independence Day celebrations. It shows us that no matter where we go or what we do, the blood pulsing in our veins will always be Indian.

What does it mean to be Indian? Being Indian means holding your head up high in times of difficulty and finding a way out of the struggle, Being Indian is being hard-working, Being Indian means being tough, Being Indian is when you reach for the stars. Sometimes we forget how deep our Indian roots actually go and how culturally diverse we are. That is why we have called miss Srila Chatterjee to celebrate this Independence Day with us and remind us of our true cultural roots (in a fun and interesting way of course)

Srila Chatterjee has always been a keen purveyor of Indian textiles and has made this passion come to life with her newest venture, Baro. What is unique about the brand's furniture and design is that each piece is infused with a bit of the founder herself. Her passion for Indian folk art, handmade textiles, Art Déco inspiration and mid-century modern silhouettes all come together beautifully at Baro. Each piece tells a story and often, this is linked to the fabric Srila has personally chosen for each item. Textiles are more than just ways to dress up your furniture - they go back centuries into the history of India and provide a lens into our country’s culture. This Independence Day, in the spirit of patriotism and design, we decided to learn more from Srila about our country's rich heritage of textiles, and how to best use them in our homes.



Peacock Throne- Handloom Jute Silk

Tell us about India and its textiles: what parts of the country are famous for which types?

To answer this question, you’d probably need an encyclopedia! I don’t think there are many countries that have the depth and variety of textiles that are available in India. I am no expert, but even with my limited knowledge, I would be able to think of at least one type unique to almost every state. In just Bengal for example, you can get the finest Jamdani muslin, the best quality jute, beautiful Tangail weaves, Murshidabad silk, woollen wonders from Darjeeling... each fabric is so varied, and has so many different uses.



Tangail Weaves





Jamdani Silk

In addition, the textiles don’t get limited to weaves; there are special methods of printing, of embroidery, of thread work, of dying and so many special ways of weaving.

You use a lot of unique textiles in your furniture. How do you decide what works best and where?

Decisions like these are mainly instinctive. You also have to add practicality - if a fabric is very thin, it’s not good for a seat, for example. I also think about what way the pattern will fall, and whether it will look right. These are all questions I have to ask myself before deciding on something. We try and showcase a large variety of fabrics. Not everyone wants to be adventurous, but at least they get to widen their horizons and consider other possibilities with our selections!



When talking about Indian textiles, people seem to only think of very ethnic, traditional prints. What else is out there that we're missing?

There is so much of so much! There is lots of trendy stuff like geometrical designs in Indian textiles; the calico flowers that are considered so “English” actually originated in India; flowers abound in every type and kind of textile; so many weaves would fall into the Ralph Lauren zone or the Laura Ashley zone or the Versace zone - all completely different. Kashmiri crewel work is another example. The work is traditional but could fit into so many different design templates. Even the more contemporary textiles, like the ones we stock from Russel Street, are screen printed in the traditional way, but the designs can be as current as you'd like.





Kashmiri Crewel Picture Source



What do you see in terms of trends with Indian textiles?

I neither follow trends nor am I interested in them!

Are people more open to using Indian textiles now and in different ways?

I think people are generally more interested in decor and in their own homes than ever before so they are looking at things differently than they did a generation and more ago.

What are your top tips on how to use Indian textiles at home?

I only have one tip: stop asking questions about how long things will last and how much they will fade and instead, look at how much difference they will make to your space. Nothing can or will last forever especially with the way Indian textiles are priced - which is quite reasonably!

Happy Independence Day, Discern Community! We hope these tips will inspire you to swathe your home in homegrown textiles, the next time you take on a makeover!

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