Bandhej

Archana Shah

Bandhej is also another name for Badhani. It is the traditional tie and dye textile method. The most bandhani making centres are situated in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sindh, Punjab region and Tamil Nadu.

At bandhej what is celebrated with Indian sensibility with inputs in traditional and contemporary clothing styles. It is known for its rich cultural innovations, craft techniques, which are all the unique identity of the brand. Today bandhej has its stores in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Pune and Cochin.

In 1981, the brand was started by designer Archana Shah an alumni of NID. in 1985 she started the first store in Ahmedabad. It is the one of those brands which focuses on the men and women clothings, indian heritage culture, multicultural women’s fashion, and more concentrating on a unique sense of style and taste. It finds a new direction to fashion by more crafts culture inclusion. It collaborates and coordinates with more craftsmanship of the country.

It has been innovating the working relationships with craft communities for more than about twenty years. Bandhej have been working with the handlooms or hand crafted (hand woven, block printed, tie & dye), eco friendly natural textiles and fibres. The sourcing has been from well known craftsmen all over the country including states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kutch, Benaras, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The production and design of the garments done in the workshop of bandhej at ahmedabad only.

The embellishments works, embroidery, applique etc are all done at around by skilled craftsmanship of ahmedabad only. The commitments of more than hundred craftsmen all around the country forms the base of the creation of the brand. It encourages the younger generations to pursue further careers in the related crafts field for sustainable production.

About the designer

In 1980 after graduating from NID she went to remote corners of the country to study and understand different types of weaving, tying, dyeing, embroidery, ornamentation methods practised all over by different communities. This journey is very fruitful as the rich designs, unique skills, embroideries all became the future of the brand. It is specially created with keeping in mind for indian women. Today it became one of the popular all around india.

Apart from this the designer Archana Shah has also worked with designing different costumes for films festivals, worked with various countries for various textile and architectural installations. Most recently her book published : SHIFTING SANDS, Kutch: A Land in Transition, in which her discovery about the land, its crafts and people over 30 years have been recognised.

In Delhi, on September 9, for the launch of a bandhej concept store in Khan market,Shah welcomed the guest with a lovely red silk sari with a knitted blouse and an extraordinary neckpiece. The best aspect is the variety of textiles and textures. It consists of both for men and women. It is delight to browse from a vast tactile of field ranging from silk and cotton bandhanis, Saurashtra patola sarees, crepe and silk banarasi, chanderis,some with metallic silver khadi printing, pure linens in white and natural colour including jackets and shirts with silver thread, kala cotton separates (old world organic cotton grown in Gujarat), rustic khadi, hand embroidered white chikankari on beige dupattas, pure cottons with or without tie and dye, knits and hosiery fabrics. Bandhej’s linen garments are generally made for contemporary dressing which is suitable for fusing out various styles from one look even. If they fit the customers then it is absolutely the rarest styles to be included in the wardrobes, best for ready to wear looks, they are worth buying as stylish pieces. As for example the Saurashtra patola sari. Fabindia’s investment for Bandhej will be one of the best collaborations ever, they will not bring in forth collaborations anymore.

This is the biggest retail opportunity for the marketing supply chain for both the brands. Shah expects to open more than 24 to 30 centres across the country within the next three years.

She thinks it is the best time to reflect the concept store idea state wise. It is not too late to understand the brands’ aesthetics and ideas though it is the right direction to take forward, as the customers take time to understand the creator’s creative minds.

As the way it is originally in Ahmedabad the same aesthetics and quality to be maintained but in a different perspective.

Recently bandhej collaborated with kala cotton and khamir which is famous for its rich production in vagad cotton in the most sustainable way.

It is produced in remote areas of kutch. It is the source of producing most sustainable products (clothings and garments). They are responsible for making organic products 100 percent natural. And they are also responsible for weaving and spinning techniques perfections. This initiative has been started with Khamir. And sustainable cotton is being produced at scale. It brings in forecast the lightening of the hidden part of the kutch yet to be unexplored. Meanwhile bandhej has been taking the initiative as well to be a part of the beautiful journey of collaboration of sustainable production at a more huge scale at a wider level. We are therefore eager for more to come.

“At Bandhej, craft is not treated like fashion novelty to be forgotten when not in vogue”.

A brand of contemporary INDIAN handwoven textiles crafted using traditional techniques.

Available in Ahmedabad Elan, Hill Plaza, Opp Sears Towers, Gulbai Tekra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat - 380015 Ph: 079 2656 9699