‘Fate Lines’ – Photo exhibition commissioned by Obeetee Carpets captures inspiring tale of Mirzapur’s women weavers
The recent photo exhibition “Fate Lines – How the Thread Changed the Destiny of Mirzapur’s Women” by journalist-photographer Kounteya Sinha at Bikaner House reveals a phenomenal story of women empowerment.
Luxury carpet and textile brand Obeetee brought together fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders at New Delhi’s Bikaner House to launch ‘Fate Lines’. The exhibition celebrates women weavers from Mirzapur and is designed to promote women’s empowerment.
Sinha has documented the lives of these weavers through 65 black and white images at the show which recently took place at Bikaner House and captured the daily lives of women on the loom.
According to Sinha, “Dozens of women smiling, laughing, free from societal norms, and knitting carpets – they were like one big happy family. The agility of their fingers, the precision of their art, and the sharpness of their eye were a sight to watch,” says Sinha.
On July 10, Obeetee held a launch party for its exhibition in the capital which runs until July 13, the brand announced in a press release. The brand describes the exhibition as, “a phenomenal show of Mirzapur’s female carpet weavers… to unveil in front of the world some of the most iconic stories of women’s empowerment.”
Guests at the launch event included famed couturier Tarun Tahiliani, design duo David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, herbal beauty entrepreneur Shahnaz Husain, Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter Tara Gandhi, and Fashion Design Council of India CEO Sunil Sethi among others.
For Gayatri Maurya, a weaver from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, carpet weaving has meant improved lives. “There’s no need for us to ask another for money,” says Maurya, who features in the exhibition by photographer Kounteya Sinha on the women weavers of Mirzapur.
