SAṂSĀRA

‘Saṃsāra’ (v., Sanskrit) in Indian philosophy, is crucial in the journey of metempsychosis, or reincarnation. The cyclical nature of Saṃsāra recognizes that death & birth are necessary as we strive to release from the bonds of our own past deeds: our karma. Saṃsāra enables the death of the past, the freeing of bondage & the inevitable rebirth into the future.

“This feels like a rebirth of LilaBare to me, as we present a collection that represents the meeting point between my aesthetic & my ideal fabrication of the pieces, particularly in relation to te label’s sustainability & ethics principles.”

– Ria Ana Sejpal, Creative Director

The collection heavily features LilaBare’s signature textile, which is of local origin, traceable, naturally grown, botanically dyed and handloomed in Kenya. The collection pays homage to the first time these techniques were developed, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization in the Bronze Age, which also is the inspirational foundation upon which the collection is designed.

During this time period, the sari had not yet been created. The number of cloths that one wore denoted the style; “ekavastra” or one piece, “dvivastra” two piece, and so on. In consideration of this, the primitive approach to the collection strips down all frivolity and emphasizes on nomadic, old-world utilitarianism. The silhouettes are cut to move in harmony with the natural elements that come into contact with each piece, as an extension of the body.

Adornment feels necessary with this approach, and much like Hindu deities, the practice of adornment or “shringaar” is to make the body, the temple of the soul, auspicious. We use adornment to protect, to express, to connect with our inner spirit, “aatma”, as one of the highest forms of celebration of life. The choice of heavy, raw materials is to provide protection to the more fragile parts of the body; forearms, ankles, the third-eye, and highlight its strengths too. They take shape in rewoven, landfill-destined denim; post-production excess pull-up leather; shells and upcycled hand-cast brass plated in gold.

Saṃsāra is the reinvention & revival of ancient textile traditions as well as our local handcraft. It is an  adaption of an era whose stories have been lost in time, yet is still reawakened into the present.