Please email your requests to [email protected] Renuka Ramesh brings you a one-of-its-kind in fabrics with block printing at Vynari.
She is a self-taught artist, who said she began block printing as a hobby 30 years ago, "because, I wanted to wear different clothes and not be one among the herd." The unusual garments she wore were sought after by friends and gradually designing became a full time passion.. She has displayed her collections in Hyderabad, Chennai, Colombo and Chicago. Block printing, has been around for centuries
among the tribal, who worked on the fabric using natural dyes. Renuka, however, uses Chiffon, Georgette, crepe and Tussar silk, and using chemical dyes, assures, the garment can be laundered at home. Incorporating traditional motifs, blending contemporary touches with embroidery, bead work and zari, Renuka's ensembles also have fabric painting. The display of salwar kameez sets and Kanjeevaram sarees have exquisite work with artistic and tasteful combinations of colours and variations of prints. Renuka says she is constantly discovering sensitive compositions and designs that are visually alluring, sensuous, delicate . With her own workshop of dedicated karigars who have been with her for 25 years Renuka ensures that each saree meets her design expectations. Some are woven at Kanchi in shimmering mustard, red, white, black, the colour palette is varied and designs incorporate zari in the pallu and exotic borders. Renuka asserts that with screen printing the design remains repetitive unlike block printing where you can vary the composition using the same block and creating different arrangements. She has no threat with competition, she says, "everyone uses the same fabrics and embellishments it's the form in which they are presented and I don't make two of any kind, it's totally exclusive".
