Niharika Momtaz’s Art Exhibition

Make it all art! Step inside the realm created by trailblazing avant garde designer, jeweler and artist Niharika Momtaz who, with her latest installation, juxtaposes clothes and art in the most brilliant way till date. A clever ruse in the guise of an art exhibit, Momtaz steals the spotlight by launching her latest luxury conscious brand, 1972 Conscious.

Housed under the roof of Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation, the exhibit was a spectacle of colour and art, a humble nod to quintessential Bengal and a hyped celebration of everything Bangladeshi. And it all started from the spark ignited by patriotic sentiments.

"Since the past two years, I've been working relentlessly to revive handloom fabrics in Bangladesh with the sole intention of promoting sustainability and creativity and to influence people to make conscious choices in fashion," shares Momtaz.

Momtaz's determination bears fruit in the shape of 1972 Conscious, an extraordinary culmination of years' worth of effort, trial and, finally, triumph. The clothes from this fashion-conscious label take the ubiquitous gamcha and paint it in crimson reds, cadmium greens and even canary yellows with eternal, overlaying stripes. New life is breathed into the fabric by transforming the textile into sarees so surreal they could entrance even the most European dressers from amongst you. Shawls, stoles and scarves are also part of the label's primo collection. But just championing gamcha is far too easy for a designer like Momtaz to be satisfied with.

This pioneer goes above and beyond her caliber and pushes the envelope by immortalizing Qamrul Hassan, a famed artist so instrumental in the development of Bangladesh's art scene that many a time Bengal itself has been dubbed "Qamrul's Bengal." Due homage is paid to Qamrul Hassan by celebrating the artist's centenary birth anniversary with the launch of 1972 Conscious on November 20, 2021.

Momtaz forever preserves Hassan's soul of an artist by stitching his lauded paintings onto the bodies of her gamcha sarees, a magnificent feat that only someone of Momtaz's vision and perseverance could accomplish and one that hymns songs of patriotism and enchantment in every thread of the magical fabric.

"Gamchas had never been seen as blank canvasses before. Motifs and artwork had never been woven into the fabric before 1972 Conscious. Seeing the final product, being a loud celebration of art, heritage textiles and experimentation and being able to showcase it as part of my label, is a very happy and proud experience for me," concludes Momtaz.

Also in attendance at the art exhibit/launch were Rubaba Dowla, a well-known Bangladeshi entrepreneur who voiced her support in favour of Momtaz and the goals of 1972 Conscious.

As did Durjoy Rahman, founder of Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation, "We have always been a sponsor of the unsung artisans of Bengal, whether it's their creativity, art or skill. Our ethos blends as well as water with Niharika's endeavors. We have always been a strong advocate of sustainability in fashion and culture and to see Niharika with 1972 reach for the skies with her venture is truly a treat," Rahman appreciated.

In a woke commitment to the environment, it has been declared that for every order placed via the brand's website and socials, a tree will be planted in a move to a greener Earth. Moreover, the environment-lovers will be happy to read that, currently, 40% of 1972 Conscious' raw materials are green and Momtaz vows that, by 2035, the brand will make a 100% move to recycled and sustainably-sourced raw materials for its entire production process.

Photo Courtesy: Niharika Momtaz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1972Conscious

Website: http://www.1972conscious.com/