Ashdeen Lilaowala

Ashdeen Z. Lilaowala is an award-winning textile designer, author and curator known for his research and revival work on the Parsi Gara through his eponymous label specialising in hand-embroidered saris inspired by the storied craft.  Lilaowala studied textile design at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, following which he conducted extensive research on Parsi Embroidery for the Ministry of Textiles alongside UNESCO’s Parzor Foundation that took him on a journey across China, Iran and India. His seminal research on the traditional and vanishing craft of Zoroastrian Kusti weaving has been published as a book, Threads of Continuity – The Zoroastrian Craft of Kusti Weaving.

The Label 

Since its inception in 2012, brand ASHDEEN has been known for its hand-embroidered saris inspired by the Parsi Gara tradition. We specialise in crafting contemporary interpretations of centuries-old Oriental and Persian embroidery techniques featuring stylized flora and fauna motifs among other symbols that represent the Zoroastrian reverence to nature. The intricacies of these techniques are rendered flawlessly by a talented team of 150 craftsperson. Timelessness is the brand’s cornerstone where each piece has been designed as a modern heirloom to be treasured and passed down generations.