Padma Doree, a new textile initiative uniting the handwoven traditions of Chanderi and Eri Silk, made its debut in New Delhi with a three-day showcase held from 1–3 May 2026. The event brought together thirteen designers from Madhya Pradesh and Northeast India, presenting original garments that highlighted the versatility and contemporary relevance of the newly developed fabric.
Marking the first time Chanderi and Eri Silk have been combined into a single textile, Padma Doree positions itself as both a craft innovation and a dynamic design resource. The showcase featured a wide spectrum of interpretations—from sharply structured silhouettes to fluid, layered ensembles—demonstrating the material’s adaptability across occasion wear and experimental fashion.
“India has always had the world’s greatest textiles. Padma Doree is an argument for what happens when those traditions stop existing in isolation and start talking to each other,” said Team Padma Doree.
Participating designers included Revika Raj Rathore, Tuhina Shukla, Nivedita Banerji, Anas Sheikh, Aditi Gupta, Samarth Khanna, Dipayan Debbarma, and Manujshree Saikia (Ura Maku, Assam), alongside Yachi Natung Taniang (Arunachal Pradesh), Robert Naorem (Manipur), Lalrinfela (Fungki, Mizoram), Asenla Jamir (Otsu Clothing, Nagaland), Iba Malai (Kiniho Clothing, Meghalaya), and Sonam Karma Bhutia (Kuzu, Sikkim). Each designer created two exclusive Padma Doree looks in addition to showcasing select pieces from their existing collections, allowing audiences to contextualize the textile within diverse design philosophies.
Running parallel to the fashion presentations, artisans and craftspeople from Madhya Pradesh and Northeast India showcased their work and the development journey of Padma Doree. By placing artisans and designers on a shared platform, the exhibition emphasized transparency and collaboration across the textile value chain—from fibre to finished garment.
Padma Doree is a collaborative textile initiative that brings together regional craft traditions with contemporary design practices. Developed through ongoing dialogue between craftspeople, industry stakeholders, and designers, the initiative aims to create a textile that is deeply rooted in Indian heritage while remaining relevant to modern fashion.