The work of craft revivalist and textile conservationist Madhu Jain, designer extraordinaire, is synonymous with swadeshi. Since launching her label in 1987 she has worked extensively with natural fibres, for which body of work she has carved a niche for herself as the countrys most respected textile revivalist, whose museum-quality textile creations and revival of rare, extinct motifs and textiles are embedded in strong Indian roots.
Madhus forte lies in creating new textiles in distinctive combinations of two different weaving traditions. In keeping with her passion for eco-friendly bio-degradable textiles, she was instrumental in introducing bamboo as an alternative textile in India, which she showcased in 2004 at the 7th World Bamboo Congress.
She also used her textile in fashioning a giant installation for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in the “Fabric of India” segment. After many more years of R&D, she refined bamboo-yarn to a precision and infused it with a silk Ikat blend. This Bamboo-Silk Ikat, a first in the history of textiles, is 100% biodegradable, sustainable right from procurement to production.
As member, All India Handlooms Board, an advisory body of GOIs Ministry of Textiles which is tasked with formulating policy decisions on the handlooms sector, Madhu hopes to make a difference in promoting artisanal livelihoods. Some of the major awards won by Madhu include: Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017, the “highest civilian honour for women” presented at Rashtrapati Bhawan by the President of India, recognizing Madhu as a torch bearer for the younger generation and as a catalyst of change for women and society.
