Fascinated by this small floating village just north of Fort Kochi called KADAMAKKUDY I visioned this particular design.

This jacket was where the signature zig zag embroidery was first sketched. Given its intricacy and doubtful possibility, I first tested this technique on a few Nehru jackets to see how they hold. Given the outcome, I was confident to go ahead with this. 

Now, Kadamakkudy is a village that, if seen from above, looks like thin strips of land (mostly roads) running in perfect geometry while having water on both sides. The white stripes that are connected to the main black piece of the jacket using this zig zag technique gives the idea that these strips are floating. The small beads detail show people/family gathered at these roads and spending quality time by the water.

On my recent trip to Kochi, I noticed a rather interesting practice:

Fishing nets - small pieces of this net was being attached to the main net by the fishermen at places where it had been torn. While they were joining these pieces, they left the raw edges unfinished and every time that net took a dip the raw edges became more prominent, creating quite a visual to see. 

This observation inspired the raw edges on this jacket and the cowrie shells since its a beach side story. 

Dori or Ropes have always meant to tie things together with different types of knots and thats it? Is that all their potential was? Only used for its function ? What happens when you let this dori move freely, give it the freedom to find its path, release it of its tension and a chance to mark its prints as a guide to others? 
It creates a beautiful story of its own, not bound and defined by its function but its exploration and ups and downs along its path.

This is not about the dori. Its a representation and a reminder that mark your own path and discover your own strengths through challenges only faced by you.

The step wells of Rajasthan are not only symmetrically pleasing to look at with all the culturally relevant aspects in its architecture, but this is how I see them, with the recent efforts of revival.

The recent revivals has attracted alot of cultural and art events across artists. This tells us, intent will always either bring out the full potential or leave things ignored until someone realises its value. The aim is to keep doing what you believe in and someone will realise it value, maybe instantly or maybe eras after, but the value it possesses will never reduce.
This jacket is inspired from this perspective, depicting the arial view of these step wells through self coloured dori on its back.