Threads of History
Travel+Leisure India|February 2024
Proudly representing Indian craftsmanship, Vaishali S is the first Indian female designer to present at the Paris Haute Couture Week. The couturier speaks to Saranya Nadar about her journey so far.
Threads of History

AT VAISHALI S COUTURE, every thread tells a story. The couturier is passionate about breathing new life into age-old traditions and reviving dying handloom techniques. From the runways of Paris to the fashion hubs of Milan, Vaishali S reimagines classic Indian weaves in unconventional silhouettes.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:

Preserving India's handloom heritage is your core philosophy. Which are some handloom weaves that you've incorporated into your couture pieces?

My mission is to keep (re) discovering beautiful handweaving techniques that are dying and give them a new life and a new language. But my commitment goes beyond saving it-I maintain it too. That is why you may see a new technique in each collection. I don't discard the old ones either; they are still carried in some density in all my collections to give a constant stream of revenues to the weavers, across seasons.

Can you share an instance where a dying handloom technique was revived through your work?

This story is from the February 2024 edition of Travel+Leisure India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2024 edition of Travel+Leisure India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TRAVEL+LEISURE INDIAView All
Rising from the Ranks
Travel+Leisure India

Rising from the Ranks

On a balmy Colaba morning, Alfea Jamal finds out how PRATIBHA RANTA dreamed a dream, nurtured that dream, and rose above all odds to become the 'go-getter' in the world around her

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2025
BECOMING ADAM AND EVE: LUXURY FORAGING IN COPENHAGEN
Travel+Leisure India

BECOMING ADAM AND EVE: LUXURY FORAGING IN COPENHAGEN

The Danish tradition of foraging, coupled with the comforting embrace of 'hygge, offers honeymooners a unique culinary experience. One that helps them connect with nature's bounty and ultimately with each other, NAINAA RAJPAAL discovers

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
Wedding Wows
Travel+Leisure India

Wedding Wows

With more than 150 weddings in his portfolio, Himanshu Patel of Epic Stories hardly needs an introduction. But when you cover what’s been touted as the ‘wedding of the century’, it certainly adds a feather to the cap. He talks about the Ambani wedding, wanderlust, and how travel is impacting the world of wedding photography with MANSI SHAH

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2025
HONEYMOONING in PARADISE
Travel+Leisure India

HONEYMOONING in PARADISE

Henna Shah shares unforgettable experiences on her three-week honeymoon that took her from serene island life in Fiji to exhilarating adventures in New Zealand

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2025
A Grand Egyptian Elopement
Travel+Leisure India

A Grand Egyptian Elopement

After years of dating and companionship, Indian-origin billionaire tech entrepreneur Ankur Jain and former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond come together in a grandiose ceremony before the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. They share the story of their big-fat wedding with SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2025
THE WILDEST ISLE
Travel+Leisure India

THE WILDEST ISLE

Compared with its neighbours, the island of Hawaii is bigger, more untamed-and, at times, unpredictable. With her family in tow, Flora Stubbs finds the perfect balance between relaxation and rugged adventure

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2025
Chills and Thrills
Travel+Leisure India

Chills and Thrills

On an Alaskan wilderness adventure, Sarah Manguso and her son learn the elements of survival.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
Wheels on Fire
Travel+Leisure India

Wheels on Fire

With its blazing fall colours and picturesque villages, the Japanese island of Kyushu was made for cycling.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2025
TRAVELLING RESPONSIBLY
Travel+Leisure India

TRAVELLING RESPONSIBLY

A trip through Queensland in Australia reveals how you can enjoy the splendour of tourist attractions while being a responsible traveller

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2025
"Queensland is surreal"
Travel+Leisure India

"Queensland is surreal"

If there's one word to describe actor MALAIKA ARORA, it's fearless. In the '90s, she set trends as a VJ. During her modelling days, she sashayed down runways with a glimmer in her eyes, wearing her confidence on her sleeve. Three decades in, she continues to speak her mind, all the while squeezing in time for fitness, fashion, and multiple ventures. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, the strong-willed star shares how she does it all.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 2025