BLING OTT, LSWF to offer free online training courses in fashion design like sketching, merchandising and hand weaving

MUMBAI: Entertainment and edutainment OTT (Over The Top) app, BLING OTT is offering basic or beginner online courses and workshops in various aspects of fashion designing like sketching, merchandising, etc.

The free workshops are organized in association with an NGO Latifa Social & Welfare Foundation (LSWF) and 50 students can attend each online batch.

LSWF works with educating underprivileged children across the nation and has been in action since the last 5 years, including the two years of the Covid pandemic, wherein it provided nutritional meals to underprivileged students during the lockdown.

According to Saif Hungund who represents the NGO, so far about 435 underprivileged students have benefitted by the courses offered by LSWF in association with other entities like BLING OTT, which is an upcoming movies and edutainment platform.

The platform will also offer technical courses in theory of weaving of traditional fabrics of India like Khadi and Kunbi.

According to tradition, the Kunbi drape which originates in tribal regions of Maharashtra and Goa is known as dethli (knotted) due to the peculiar knot on the right shoulder which secures the pallu.

The folds of the sari skirt flare out on the right, instead of the usual left.

The Kunbi sari is worn at least a foot above the ankle to ensure mobility while working in the fields or even at home.

The garment is an identity marker of the Kunbi community, a Scheduled Tribe of Goa and Maharashtra.

The term “Kunbi” is derived from the Konkani words “kun” (people) and “bi” (seed). “Kunbi”, therefore, literally refers to people who sow or germinate seeds, which refers to the farming community.

Sometimes, stripes of white, green, purple and indigo were added near the pallu. A 2.5 to three-inch wide dobby border in streams of white or gold ran along the sides of these saris.

Unfortunately, today most Kunbi fabric is produced on power looms in Maharashtra, Belgaum and Karnataka and masquerades as “original or traditional Kunbi” and is worn by dancers and performers in Maharashtra and Goa during festivals and events.

Bollywood fashion designer C’Raj of Mumbai will also be part of the online training workshops and share his knowledge and expertise with the students, said Anita Shah, a spokesperson for the project.

“I am collaborating with BLING OTT and LSWF to train fashion design students to hand weave these traditional fabrics and keep alive an otherwise long-lost traditional art,” said designer C’ Raj, who has agreed to work with underprivileged students in this project.