What to wear for such a theme? How to bring together the fantastical, other-worldly Burning Man festival fashion with the exquisite colour and craftsmanship for which Rajasthan is renowned? Happily, through my work with Eco-Age, I was introduced to the brand and team of Purvi Doshi. India is a country famed for its art and textile industry, skills that are passed down from generation to generation. Sadly, they are talents that are at risk of being forgotten due to a lack of demand, a loss that Doshi seeks to preserve through her brand. As the designer puts it: “The label was born out of the urge to give back to the earth… We are using the planet, consuming its resources, while hurting the future of our people and our planet, and this is simply unsustainable and cruel. We should know better as a species.” The brand’s credentials are impressive, from their fabric choices (Khadi, Ahimsa silk and organics) to the care they provide for their craftsmen, “the hands that wield the magic” as Purvi poetically puts it.
First, I started a moodboard. Colour is so evocative of Rajasthan for me and two shades particularly stood out. One is the hot pink of SUJÁN Rajmahal Palace’s interiors, shepherd’s turbans and women’s saris – it even has its own name: Rani pink (a rani is a Hindu queen). The second is blue, inspired by the blue buildings of Jodphur’s famed old city, Bar Palladio floral frescoes and of course, the peacock, the national bird. The two together were a perfect combination. Flowing skirts, eye-catching mirror-work and festive accessories were also on the board.