Anula Narasimhan

'Revive' by Anula Narasimhan

The oceans of the world are filled with vibrant coral reefs, teaming with life in multiple hues. Mirroring this brilliance are the traditional sarees worn by Indian women which offer a rich tapestry of textures and colours. Today coral reefs as well as sarees are on the decline.

My project, 'Revive', uses textiles to bridge the above issues, sparking conversations about environmental protection and cultural preservation. It promotes design activism by creating awareness about coral bleaching and the fading art of saree draping in India. Coral bleaching is a condition where coral reefs lose their vibrant colours due to the rise in ocean temperatures caused by pollution from human activities. While, sarees, an attire worn by Indian women, are facing threats due to modern lifestyle changes.

I have attempted to create contemporary sarees from bamboo silk fabric – a renewable material, available abundantly in nature. The motifs on the sarees are inspired by various stages of coral bleaching. I have used digital printing techniques which consume a minimal amount of pigments, resulting in less wastage and pollution as compared to other printing techniques.