THE DEEPAK AND DAKSHA HUTHEESING COLLECTION IN PARIS

I've always been fascinated by maharadjas' clothes and jewels.

The Hutheesing Howeli in Ahmedabad is home to one of the richest and most amazing textile collections : assembled by the Hutheesing family over the course of four generations the collection includes more than five thousand exceptional pieces, most of which date from the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th century and which span all walks of life, from princess and wealthy merchants to tribal and nomadic communities as well as the working classes of India's past.

A choga, stolen with my iPhone

The Hutheesings are one of the most prominent families in Gujarat and India, having served as bankers and advisers to the mogul emperors.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS COLLECTION IS PRESENTED TO THE WORLD.

FROM THE GREAT DURBAR TO INDEPENDENCE (1911-1947)

The British crown left the maharajas their titles and property, but took away the foundation of their power, the right to wage war. Deprived of force, the favored means of expression of these warrior princes, the last maharajas cultivated luxury and competed through the grandeur of their image. Clothing was at the heart of the social bend during this courtly period - from the Delhi Durbar of 1911, which brought all the noble families of India to the city, to the declaration of independence in 1947 - which marked the swan song of the Maharajas'  indian splendour become the official language of the  courts.

For textile creation it was a remarkable era that sparked the talent of Indian citizens like never before. GOLD, SILVER, SILK, BROCADE, EMBROIDERY and a PROFUSION OF COLOURS AND PRECIOUS MATERIALS; one could smell in the magnificence of this era's costumes, which features luxury on an excessive scale, the beautiful and tragic fragrance of decadence. They are the last fireworks of the indias, a couuntry which, in those days, wrote its name in the plural to emphasize the diversity of cultures that can be seen in these costumes and which would later fade somewhat with the widespread use of kadi, the white cotton that symbolizes the independence of a single united India and is to this day still the fabric of choice for most ministers in the Parliament. All that remains of the grandiose spectacle of the courts of the last Maharajas are the costumes: achkans, chogas, shervanis, saris, abhas, the garments with wich this history collection was written...

THE PHOTOS DON'T SHOW THE REALLY AMAZING QUALITY OF THESE CLOTHES.

MEN CLOTHES

SHERVANI

ACHKAN

Men's upper-body garment that is often knee length, overlaps on the chest and is braided or knotted on the sides. Traditionaly associated with the muslim aristocracy of northern India.

CHOGA

                                                      

WOMEN CLOTHES

SARI

ABHA

CHANYIA