Waheeda Rahman with some of her creations

Sept. 25: Traditional designs woven in thread centuries ago, will now glitter in gold and silver in international markets, thanks to Waheeda Rahman, the only jewellery designer of the Northeast.

City-based Rahman is working on a collection where motifs from the Kanjari, an intricately embroidered cloth used for Karbi religious ceremonies, and traditional textiles from the region will take shape in precious metal.

This 35-year-old designer, who won the President’s medal in 1998, is now working on her latest series “Textile in gold and silver”.

The collection will be showcased before an international audience.

“Traditional textiles of the region are full of colour and vibrancy combined with designs depicting the rich cultural heritage of the land,” Rahman said.

“They are priceless and combining them with priceless metals can do wonders,” she added.

Most of the textile designs chosen by Rahman are three to four centuries old.

Her designs are the result of in-depth research in Karbi Anglong. She is also planning a visit to Arunachal Pradesh for further research.

Apart from the Kanjari, the traditional costume of Karbi women will also find a place in her collection.

Rahman has named her jewellery in the Karbi language. Some examples are Aarhan, Nou-Theng-Pi and Pe-Pahu (bangles).

“I will not only keep the original textile motifs intact but the designed jewellery will also have original Karbi names,” said Rahman.

Rahman also did some research in Kulaguri Jaroni village near Biswanath Charali a few months ago. She was helped in her endeavour by the Weavers Service Centre at Beltola, Guwahati.

The centre is a branch of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.

“I have always tried to maintain the original design of traditional jewellery of various ethnic groups of the region. But keeping with time, I have used the latest technology,” said Rahman.

Some of her popular designs are traditional Assamese jewellery ? japi with buffalo horn, japi and pepa, dhol and Goalpariya dhan kheriya among others.

Rahman rued that jewellery design is yet to be accepted as a creative art. “Jewellery designing is like miniature sculpture. It is not only about making one look good. It should bring forth the personality of a particular individual,” she said. “And for doing that, a lot of creativity goes into the metals.”

Her brand Waheeda is exported to New York, London, Australia, Germany and several other European and Southeast Asian countries.

American fashion designer Zilda Kaplan had also used Rahman’s jewellery for a fashion show.

Rahman has also showcased her work at the Mauritius trade fair recently.

“Man-woman relationship”, “bees-flowers harmony”, “nature’s collection” and “ambitious women” are some of this designer’s popular collections.