Infusing the age-old craft of jamdani and the fine Bengali fabric of muslin with a contemporary spirit is city-based designer Kavya Singh Kundu’s first collection under her upcycling project titled Tale As Old As Time. With a focus on relieving the weavers off their dead stocks, each ensemble under this project is a lesson in waste-management and the optimum usage of raw material. Easy silhouettes and the heritage of jamdani and muslin make this collection a fresh and stylish fusion. While every design has the option of getting sized up or down by one, the designer is also open to the possibility of working with a customer’s jamdani sari or scarf.

“This is a small way in which we can all come together and help our skilled weavers and celebrate the rich art and culture, craft and heritage Bengal has given us. There would have been no better time to launch this than Poila Baisakh as it’s the start of a new year and new and endless possible beginnings,” said Kavya about her labour of love.

Apart from the designs available, Kavya and her team are also making accessories and small gifts like bedroom slippers, masks, scrunches and notebooks from the scrap materials with the intention of optimal use of raw materials as well as generating employment.

The collection is available for retail at Kavya’s design studio at First floor, P-47B Nani Gopal Roy Chowdhury Avenue from Monday to Friday (noon to 5pm, by appointment) or on her Instagram page @kavyasinghkunduofficial.

For this special shoot, actress Susmita Chatterjee of Prem Tame fame got into four looks from the collection.

Made from jamdani dupattas with the quintessential flower motifs, handwoven in Phulia, this is perfect as an easy-breezy kaftan. Or simply glam it up with a belt and a pair of heels! The slip will be made to order. Rs 7,500

Crafted from leftover geometric gold jamdani yardage and blue diamond jamdani stoles that are both handwoven in Phulia, this is perfect for a brunch as a tunic or pair it with a pair of churidars for a light kurta set. This also comes with the option of adding sleeves to it.
Rs 7,500

Designed from jamdani stoles handwoven in Phulia, the gathered sleeves give it a fun sleeveless look, while the cinched waist gives the wearer some definition. We recommend pairing it with some funky slides and taking it out for a spin. Rs 7,500

Who would have thought that this piece of one-shouldered gorgeousness is crafted from leftover blouse material and a stole handwoven in Phulia? Dress it down or up like Susmita with this glam look and watch it turn heads! Rs 5,500

Pictures: Pabitra Das
Hair & make-up: Mainak Das
Stylist & designer: Kavya Singh Kundu
Location: Unplugged Courtyard