It is a story of a fashion label originating from the grassroot level and making it on the big stage of a Fashion Week. This is the launch of Silai, a brand created with intense passion and a mélange of collaborations, from the Silai school women to fashion designers, NGOs and Usha's own team, working round the clock to make it happen. The past few months have seen rigorous training sessions for the shortlisted Silai school women by the fashion designer mentors, sleepless night and stiff production schedules, but what shines through it all is the grit and dedication that these women brought to the project. It was more than just being a part of a global fashion network for these women. Coming to a city like Mumbai itself was a dream come true for many of them. For years Lakme Fashion Week has led the conversation on promoting Indian handlooms and textiles. This season they decided to bring the impact of skill training and sustainable development in our country to the fore. A specially designed show to launch the Usha Silai Label and showcase the work done by the Silai school women was put together as an ode to sustainability and a success story for India's quest for skill development. The Silai label initiative has come a long way from its conception to launch and the journey has only just begun.
