Sabyasachi Designs Ajrakh Printed Uniforms for Girls' School in Jaisalmer

Global fashion designer Sabyasachi recently collaborated with CITTA organisation (New York State registered non-profit organization) and designed versatile uniforms for girl students in Jaisalmer's Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School. Functioning as a non-profit organisation, CITTA initiated the project to support young girls in Jaisalmer with education, and teach them vocational skills, expanding the opportunities of economic independence for them.

The official Instagram handle of Sabyasachi shared pictures of the students in Sabyasachi uniforms which features a blue knee-length dress with a round neck, three-quarter sleeves, and two patch pockets, along with maroon cropped elastic waist pants. The designer himself also shared a statement explaining that the idea behind designing the uniforms was to embrace the local techniques and to provide a better sense of community, connection and pride for their home.

"When designing these outfits, I wanted to make sure they reflected the region's craft heritage, with the hopes that it would highlight for the young girls the beauty and power inherent to the craft, and provide a better sense of community, connection and pride for their home," read an excerpt from the statement.

Founded by American Artists, Michael Dubae, CITTA works to bring health, education and economic development (a holistic approach referred to as the HEED model) by empowering women and young girls in geographically challenged and marginalised communities in the world.

Designed by New York-based architect Diana Kellogg, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School In Jaisalmer is built with the capacity to educate 400 girls. The school is officially slated to open in December 2020 and will include a training centre where local women can be formally trained in skills of the region such as "ajrakh"(a block-printing technique popularly used in the region).