Fuschia or Peach?

One of the things I love about my business is that – when it comes to fabrics and clothing – I’m really am able to live my philosophy.

So many times, I’d like to buy ‘Made in the U.S.’ to keep people employed here but if you’ve every tried it, it’s more difficult that it sounds! First thing you have to do it get rid of your beloved iphone…and that’s not going to happen.

But when it comes to fabric, I really can put my money where my heart is. So now my wedding is a week away – and I have a dilemma…but kind of  a luxurious one. I am wearing fuchsia (tradional colors for an Indian bride are red or pink) and my flower girls are wearing a mix of a lighter shade of fuschia and peach.

Before I was even really sure about the color palette, I designed and order some handloom cotton silk with woven sequins – in two colors: Fuchsia and Peach. Its from the same village where a lot of Indigo Handloom products are made - so I can have my 'people' representing at the wedding. Can't fit the entire village into my cousin's backyard, afterall. 

 I figured I’d use one of them to drape my ‘mandap,’ which is a gazebo-type structure you get married under. The other one, I’d turn into scarves.

Now I can’t make up my mind!  Quick! Help me pick a color!

A Bride's Lament

So I disappeared again – but you’ll have to forgive me. It was really for the best reason:  love. Yes, it happened to me this year. By this time next week, I’ll be able to change my FB status to “married.”

I decided to do a ‘modern’ version of an Indian wedding - partly to please my parents and partly because I wanted all those clothes an Indian bride gets! I’m such a glutton..I have four different outfits over two days.

Most of my extended family is coming, the final menu changes are almost set and we are hoping to strike a balance between Indian and European traditions as my fiancé is originally from Germany. We are having having kebabs as well as brats with sauerkraut; potato somasas with Koestritzer (German) beer.

We are having a bharath (a parade for the groom as he comes to the ceremony) but my groom isn’t coming on the traditional vehicle: a white horse; He’s showing up in a 1967 mustang convertible! Much more his style and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I was looking for a lengha to wear at the reception, I was so dismayed that every Indian clothing shop I went to only had bridal lengha made of this plastic netting as a base. This trend started a few years ago in India and it seems to have reached every corner of the design world there. I know netting is easy to embroider on and also very cheap and easy to dye – but it’s still essentially plastic!

I have no idea why so many Indian women put up with it! Ten years ago– when I would go to India – I would lust after all these gorgeous silks and brocades lenghas and saris – many of them handwoven from different remote regions of India. Now, even if I had made a trip to India, it’s difficult to find something made without netting. They even make saris out of netting - in a land with the world's most beautiful textiles. I don't get it.

I kept thinking about all those weavers who no longer have work because designers are using this netting. It's more than just fashion - these choices and preferences have real impact on the silk and the handloom industry.  A mill can spit out miles of cheap netting made of plastic so easily - which is great for the factory owner - but it means weavers who used to make their living making beautiful brocades for brides have even less work.    I’m hoping this trend dies down soon and there is a demand for natural fibers and handloom again.

One night after trying several stores in the SF-Bay area, I was so discouraged and stressed out because my wedding date was coming fast. I actually threw up all over my fiancé’s boat (sorry Andre)! It wasn’t seasickness – the boat was still in the dock! It was that bad fabric - it literally makes me sick.

I did end up finding something - with real silk brocade and real chiffon! Yeh!