Lotus Heritage Textile Stoles, A Symbol of Women’s Empowerment
After the success of the first heritage textile stole design inspired by the Gangaur festival, Friends of Mewar’s founder Padmaja Kumari Parmar conceptualized a second exclusive stole design that celebrates the rich heritage of Mewar, reflecting its deep cultural roots through the symbolism of the lotus flower. Created in collaboration with Aavaran, an indigenous brand founded by Alka Sharma, this stole is a masterpiece of traditional craftsmanship, combining age-old techniques with a contemporary touch.
The stole’s design features floating lotus flowers and water lilies, capturing the essence of Udaipur’s cultural heritage. Handcrafted by skilled women artisans in Udaipur, Rajasthan, these stoles are meticulously fabricated from luxurious Mashru and Chanderi silk. The fabric is naturally dyed and adorned with exquisite Dabu prints, a mud-resist hand block printing technique with origins in Akola, Chittorgarh, a former Mewar capital. Embellished with opulent zari embroidery, edged with delicate leheriya, and fringed with tiny zari ball tassels, each stole is a testament to the timeless beauty and intricate artistry of the region.
The lotus, a symbol of resilience and transformation, holds profound cultural significance in Udaipur and Mewar. It is a reflection of the enduring legacy of the House of Mewar, the world’s oldest-serving dynasty, with an unbroken custodianship since 734 AD. Just as the lotus rises from muddy waters to bloom in pristine beauty, so does Udaipur, embodying the spirit of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence amidst adversity. This motif is not only a central element in Udaipur’s art and architecture but also a symbol of the values and traditions that have guided Mewar through centuries of challenges and triumphs.
Ultimately, the lotus serves as a timeless emblem of beauty, spirituality, and cultural legacy, effortlessly encapsulating the essence of Mewar. A hundred stoles featuring this design will be distributed globally to Friends of Mewar supporters along with the story of its development to support future women’s empowerment initiatives as they are crafted in a factory in Udaipur that employs over 100 women artisans and supports more than 200 women across five independently run training and production centers in villages around Udaipur operated by Aavaran’s NGO COSVI Udaipur.
This collaboration between Friends of Mewar and Aavaran is a commitment to women’s economic empowerment and preserving Mewar’s cultural heritage.