A Chinese celebration

An Ashdeen Lilaowala designed body-hugging dress fused with a sari is now part of the permanent collection of the China National Silk Museum. When the Delhi-based couturier was invited to participate in an exhibition by the Museum he thought it would be "ideal to amalgamate Chinese and Indian elements” to create a quipao-sari dress, he told Parsiana over a phone call on October 17, 2019.

Lilaowala "created a silhouette in which the upper body is fully embroidered in tonal shades.” The sari panel draped over the shoulder is embroidered with flying cranes and birds of paradise, and chrysanthemums, peonies and roses. Opting not to use the "very obvious” red used in Parsi garas, "we chose a midnight blue and black to add more drama to the creation,” the couturier stated. "Most motifs have been given a three-dimensional effect with beads and sequins.” The feedback from the Museum noted that this "layering” given to traditional Chinese motifs was "very impressive,” he stated. Discussions with the Museum on broad patterns, sketches and the choice of fabric, up to delivery of the piece took two-and-a-half months.
The designer’s creation is currently on display at the Museum’s 2019 Global Quipo Exhibition at Hangzhou till November 20, 2019. Known for his hand embroidered creations inspired by Oriental craftsmanship, the designer told Parsiana the Museum contacted him "because our work already has some context with China.”
Lilaowala is the only Indian among those invited from over 10 countries to participate in the exhibition. Over 40 ensembles are on display, notes the Museum’s website. A permanent collection of over 40,000 pieces of western fashion and Chinese textiles that span over 4,000 years of human creativity is housed in the Museum, noted Lilaowala.