Benaras meets Japan in Ekaya Banaras’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection ‘Sakura’. The saris and lehngas have striking contemporaneity and the essence of minimal charm. Palak Shah (inset), CEO and founder, Ekaya Banaras, in a pre-Diwali chat told t2 about the coming together of the two different worlds.

Sakura looks lovely. How do you do it every time?

I try, I try! (Laughs)

This entire marriage of Benarasi and Japanese art sounds charming...

A lot of people venture into Japanese culture and it is common. People take silhouettes from there and cherry blossom. We wanted to take lacquerwork from there. The sense of Benaras is flora and fauna but that has been overused. So, we wanted to give a different take on things and show the Benarasi flora and fauna in a different form altogether. We wanted to still maintain the essence of Benaras and still sort of create something that people will love, accept and take to very quickly, but show a different perspective to things altogether.

The way you have styled it is so cool and bold....

Again breaking stereotypes when it comes to Benarasis and bringing international trends as well to our clothing and Indian traditional things, like pairing up with oversized jackets or with bralettes or flared pants and trying to showcase our Benarasi textiles in a more international way but keeping in mind the Indian sensibility and the wedding season. So, we have used the hanger rings or tied a dupatta or placed it around the waist. We have used these accessories to accentuate the look.

This is also a relevant collection as ‘sakura’, meaning cherry blossom, also stands for ‘renewal’ and fits right in with the times we are living in...

We are also at a crux of time when we are regenerating again from the pandemic, not to say that it is over, but hope is there. This festive time is about regeneration and recreation and getting out of your shell and sakura is also blossoming and so are the times we are living in. Also, this crazy surge for people to celebrate at this point of time, to feel a little normal. I think Sakura stands in tune with all of that.

Do you have favourites when it comes to Japanese culture?

I haven’t been to Japan to be honest. If I have to pick from this collection, the yellow lehnga is my favourite. I love our take on the miniskirt. That’s stunning as well.

What are your memories of winter fashion?

You will be seeing me in a lot in turtlenecks with saris now, with my own take on it. It is a lot about layering, overcoats. Memories... cosying up and bonfires and I am excited to show a different take on textiles. We have a huge range of jackets and overcoats that we have created and I think will be excellent for layering.

As we are slowly approaching the end of 2021, what is giving you positivity and hope?

I am hoping that the pandemic is over and we go back to normalcy.

Pictures courtesy: The brand