Jaisalmer
When I first visited Jaisalmer with my family as a child, my memories are vastly different from the majestic and tourist capital it is today, studded with seven-star luxury and haveli hotels run by enterprising locals. The Jaisalmer of my memories was a desert haven, a no-mans-land dotted with palm trees and a few camels wandering around. As a family we enjoyed our meals with the villagers and were invited into their homes. It was there, inside these havelis that I became completely enthralled. I remember being mesmerised by the bright colours and intricate inlay work I witnessed, in stark contrast to the nearly barren land outside the haveli doors. The vividness of the colours is what I remember most, and rather than revisiting this oldest living fort in India today now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I chose to design it form my memories, going back only to shoot the campaign. The intricate inlay that fascinated me as a 6-year old makes its presence felt in the hand embroidered motifs of camels and palm trees, and the appliqué patterns on pieces in the Jaisalmer collection. Vibrant colours, reminiscent of those favoured by the local gypsy women in eco-friendly fabrics are accented with design details like pleats to create a collection that invokes the spirit of Jaisalmer and carries it across time and space.
