MADE IN
INDIA
CHAPTER 3: India
When you walk out of the airport in
India and - instantly - the smells, sights, and sounds of India tantalize your every sense. Inspiration abounds everywhere; from the gold adorning slender necks to the vibrant colors decorating trucks, buses, and rickshaws. With so many choices oftextures, techniques, and textiles, Cuyana along with our passionate community, carefully curated images and pieces celebrating India’s rich cultural heritage.
CHAPTER 3: India
Curry may not be India’s biggest export, but it is definitely the most delicious. However Indian cuisine is more nuanced than travelers expect. Each region has a different flavor profile with restaurants in major cities going beyond traditional fare. One of our favorites, Indian Accent, located in the Manor Hotel in New Delhi, showcases Indian food with a contemporary feeling. Chef Manish Melhotrawill delight your tastebuds with Indian flavors filled with global flare.
CHAPTER 3: India
In India, the word “market” applies to more than just open-air bazaars filled with artisans. Many of the best “markets” in New Delhi are village-themed shopping destinations featuring designer boutiques clustered together in beautiful settings. If you’re looking for more than traditional handicrafts, check out Santushti, Hauz Khas, and Khan markets.
CHAPTER 3: India
Each Cuyana collection is inspired by the local culture of the country we visit. India was filled with inspiring colors, techniques, textures, and materials. Armed with our inspiration boards and insights from our community, the Cuyana team met with various craftsmen to quickly sketch, prototype, and finally sample each design. After rigorous quality control, we selected the best pieces for the final collection.
CHAPTER 3: India
SILK: Cuyana’s summer scarves are made from the finest Tasar silk. Of the four types of silk, Tasar, Eri, Muga, and Mulberry, Tasar is the only one made from natural, non-domesticated worms, reared outdoors. It is naturally a copperish color which when woven, has a unique luster multi-tonal quality non-duplicable bymanmade fabrics.
Our silk comes from a special project created to empower the women villagers of Jharkhand. As one of the poorest regions in India, there were few economic opportunities to uplift the community. A special organization was builtto not only train these families to raise worms according to the Ahimsa (non-violence) philosophy, but they are also taught to make yarn and weave cloth.
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This season’s necklaces and bangles embody India's story of stainless steel and jute. We partnered withthe wonderful designers at En Indeto bring you a fresh jewelry collection, focused on modern design and craftsmanship.
While traditional cutlery and dishes were made of brass, contemporary homes now stock aluminum and stainless steel due to the material’s lighter weight. The evolution of the Indian kitchen is a great example ofa modern India- rooted in tradition, while still embracing new fashions. Jute is also part of our collection. Traditionally used for rice, coffeeand spice sacks, jute proved to be a vibrant material to incorporate in our collection.
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LEATHER SEQUIN: Sequins were first found in 2500 BC in the Indus Valley. Fabrics were adorned with real gold discs to increase the “chamki”, shine and reflectiveness, of the garment. Today, most sequins are made from plastic. The beauty of this hand woven technique is often lost due to the use of lower quality materials. However, reuniting expert craftsmanship with premium textiles, results in collectable and exquisite pieces.
The combination of traditional and modern are exhibited in the Cuyana hand-woven leather sequins clutch. Each piece celebrates antique embroidery practices, with craftsmen carefully stitching each sequin to create a textured, tangible pattern. The bag’s fine details reflect a modern, elegant execution of a classic technique
