The Himalayan knot, known as ‘gaanth’ or ‘dudpa’, holds profound significance in Himalayan cultures, symbolising both spirituality and practicality. From its representation in sacred iconography to its daily use in binding cattle and constructing homes, the knot is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Himalayan life.
Royal Enfield's Himalayan textile conservation project delves into the multifaceted nature of the knot, shedding light on indigenous textile traditions. It aims to preserve the rich heritage of the past while shaping its contemporary relevance and future trajectory. The project embarks on a journey through the Himalayas, spanning from Ladakh to Assam, exploring the intricate weaving techniques and materials unique to each region.
– Ikshit Pande, Eicher Motors
As a document of the conservation project, we created a press-kit designed to include ‘The Himalayan Knot’ book that serves as a textile guide for riders and a postcard format ‘Look-Book’ featuring textiles by each of the fashion designers involved in the project, along with an invite for the launch of the project, neatly packed within a gateway sheet sewn with a red thread.
"The Himalayan Knot" is a book that serves as a guide for riders, delving into the textile traditions of Ladakh and Assam. It offers an overview and documentation of the Himalayan textile conservation project, encapsulating the essence of this cultural exploration.
The book's cover features a high-quality inkjet print on canvas, bound with a red thread forming a symbolic knot at its centre. Upon opening, readers are greeted with the poetic musings of "Transcendental Traveller" in a mini booklet, followed by a captivating photo essay introducing Ladakh's landscape and a fold-out riding map.
The journey continues with insights into the sheep wool process and profiles of organisations and fashion designers dedicated to this craft. Transitioning to Assam, readers are treated to another photo essay and a textile riding map, providing a comprehensive understanding of the region's textile heritage.
The book concludes with a thoughtful addition—a notepad for readers to jot down their own reflections and inspirations gathered along the way.
Accompanying the book is a postcard format Look-Book, featuring textiles by each of the fashion designers involved in the conservation project. A high-quality digital print, each page of the look-book is tearable and can be used as a postcard.
Since there is an emphasis on textiles from both regions throughout the conservation project, the invite for the 'The Himalayan Knot’ launch event highlights images from both Assam and Ladakh in a fun, double-sided design that’s also compact.
Team Bombay Duck Designs:
Zeenat Kulavoor, Humera Khan, Swapnil Sawant and Dnyanesh Patale.
Team 'The Himalayan Knot':
Ikshit Pande, Shubham Lodha, Varun Sikka, Dr. Monisha Ahmed, Chongrosiem Hauzel, Shibani Chaudhury and Tsewang Dolma.
2023