Costumes and Textiles of Royal India by Ritu Kumar

For centuries, the ruling dynasties of India promoted the skills of spinners, weavers, dyers, printers and embroiderers, commissioning textiles from renowned centers of excellence across the subcontinent. Delicate muslins from Dacca, fine silk brocades from Varanasi, complex woolen weaves from Kashmir, intricate gold embroideries from Lahore – all were transformed into costumes fit for kings and courtiers. After years spent searching for the last surviving examples of traditional court clothing, designer Ritu Kumar has uncovered a wealth of costumes. Her book is a celebration of thousands of years of craft tradition and a testimony to the survival of the world’s richest textile repertoire.