India, Sept. 20 -- In the world of heritage handloom, Patola is known for its exquisite craftsmanship, rare double ikat weaving technique, and timeless appeal. Now, with the arrival of the festive season, celebs are making a case for the traditional weave in designer wear, rebranding it through modern styling and contemporary silhouettes. Produced in Gujarat's Patan, Patola requires mathematical precision, grid-based calculations and geometric planning before the weave even begins. Artisans tie-and-dye both the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads to align the colours in a pattern. Textile revivalist Madhu Jain says, "A genuine Patola saree can take over six months to make, weigh over 3kg and cost up to Rs.3 lakh. The torchbearers of this craft are Bharatbhai Kantilal Salvi and Rohitbhai Kantilal Salvi, master craftsmen from the Salvi family of Patan." The growing visibility of Patola among celebrities reflects a general trend in increasing appreciation for Indian textiles. "Celebrities and stylists are now looking beyond conventional red-carpet fabrics and delving into Indian textiles. Also, the vibrant colours and intricate geometric vocabulary used in a traditional Patola give any outfit a sense of character," explains designer Nidhi Tambi Kejriwal, whose exquisite creation was worn by actor Jahnvi Kapoor for Ganesh Chaturthi this year. Beyond sarees, designers are using Patola across contemporary lehenga skirts, corsets, kurtas, dupattas, and even repurposing heirlooms into jackets and capes. "The way celebrities are wearing Indian textiles today has made them much more appealing to a younger audience. There is growing interest in pieces that have a story and craftsmanship behind them, but people also want them to feel personal and not too predictable," shares designer Arpita Mehta. While the drama of double ikat continues to captivate textile connoisseurs, Patola is now also the most "faked textile", warns Jain as she rues how e-commerce platforms are even selling fakes for Rs.1,000. "It is not only being produced on power looms to lower costs, but also recreated in digital prints," she adds. On the future of the textile, Kejriwal hopes it's not just "fashionable for one season". "Of late, I see rampant use of single ikat, art patola, printed patola, Surat patola. And honestly, I hope we carry only the real double Ikat Patola in the future. Because these cheaper, fast-selling variants dilute the rich legacy of the original craft."...