After tasting success with the M.S. Subbulakshmi collection last year, Co-optex has revived a collection of designs patronised by Rukmini Devi, founder of Kalakshetra. The repertoire of silk saris with motifs such as peacock, jasmine bud, thazhampoo , and rudraksha , were prized by a niche clientèle, especially dancers.
“Last year, when we revived the vintage Kancheepuram collection, there was a demand to revive the Rukmini Devi collection too. She had an exquisite collection of silk saris that were characterised by broad borders with slender designs. So this year, we decided to take up the challenge,” said the Tamil Nadu Weaver’s Cooperative Society (Co-optex) managing director T.N. Venkatesh.
The organisation had to fall back on a booklet published in the 1990s on the Rukmini Devi collection, which described in detail the various designs and weaving methods of silk saris. “Co-optex had worked with Kalakshetra on a project to revive a set of designs then. Ms. Rukimini Devi was known as a connoisseur of saris. So, we approached weavers in Kancheepuram and Arni to recreate the motifs,” he said.
Unfortunately, over the years, the weaving method called korvai had been lost but Co-optex managed to recreate some of the unique designs of Kalakshetra in silk thread and zari.
A good collection of the Rukmini Devi-style saris are now available at the Thillayadi Valliammai showroom in Egmore.
Demonetisation
Even Co-optex with a good client base has felt the impact of demonetisation. An official said, “Almost 80 per cent of our sales is through card but in smaller towns, where people prefer to pay by cash, there has been a fall.” Co-optex would be offering its annual 30 per cent discount till January 31.
