The rebirth of Indian crafts is a topic that is frequently discussed by leading designers in India today, including TarunTahiliani, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, and Anita Dongre. One can easily trace the decline of these heritage crafts back to the British era, when unchecked exploitation caused heavily taxed craftsmen, handloom weavers, and artisans to turn to cheaper ways of producing goods, which eventually replaced exquisite handcrafted treasures. This raises the question of why there is a need for this revival in the first place. However, during the last few decades, this group of skilled designers has come to appreciate the value and beauty of our crafts and has worked to keep them current. It is an ongoing endeavour that has significantly influenced and altered Indian culture.
The 1990s, the decade that started with India’s economic liberalisation, brought with them denim in various colours, styles, and fits, including miniskirts, high-waisted “dad” jeans, and even dungarees. Cropped tops, matching sets, and plenty of plaid were also present. Our fixation with Bollywood was coupled with this passion for the culture of this far Western nation in the 2000s as we became familiar with American stars as a result of the easy access to American movies, TV shows, and music. The trend of the day was tube tops, low waist jeans, denim jackets, and tiny dresses. For Indian clothing, the shinier, the better. From RohitBal to Rajesh, a plethora of fashion names emerged in the 1990s and 2000s.
