Rasai for A&S – 2024SS Collection

The 2024 Spring/Summer collection by r a s a i is comprised entirely of custom-made items reflecting A&S’s requests. The main focus is on reversible garments made from the classic lightweight Mulmul fabric. This season also sees the introduction of a new cotton gown with circular patterns created using Jamdhani weaving and a new selection of blankets. The collection offers light and airy materials that are perfect for the current season, providing a pleasant feel against the skin, alongside beautifully handcrafted blankets. We invite you to come and explore.

At the heart of r a s a i is the Indian bed quilt, Razai, which is gently wrapped in cotton batting and Mulmul cotton fabric, and meticulously hand-stitched. Mulmul is a traditional cotton fabric woven by India’s most skilled weavers. Known as the “woven breeze,” it is extremely thin, soft, highly breathable, and nearly translucent. Currently, the weaving techniques have been lost, and power looms are now standard, making special care and skill essential during sewing. This season features classic double-layered sleeveless tops, pants, gowns, and a new style of half-sleeve tops.

Jamdhani weaving is a traditional technique originating from the Bengal region of Bangladesh and India. It creates beautiful patterns by adding weft threads to specific parts of extremely thin cotton fabric. This technique was favored by royalty and nobility during the Mughal Empire from the 16th to 18th centuries, who supported its development. The production process involves carefully lifting extremely fine warp threads with long needles and weaving through them, requiring time, effort, and advanced skills. The resulting fabric is exquisitely patterned, highly valued for its historical significance and artistry. This season, gowns featuring Jamdhani weaving are showcased.

The new blanket collection by r a s a i, is crafted through a luxurious process to maintain the softness of the fabric. Mulmul is carefully hand-torn into squares, and despite its thinness and fragility, the pieces are meticulously aligned and quilted to create a reversible design. The geometric patterns are inspired by the stepwells commonly found in Gujarat, India.

Founded in India in 1996, asiam studio manages all production processes for soft furnishings and apparel, from design and dyeing to sewing, collaborating primarily with established European brands. Since 2021, it has been operated by asiam studio living, a new company launched by the founding designer to focus on diverse activities. The hand-stitched bed quilts called “Razai,” cherished in Indian winters for their beautiful and comfortable texture, are produced with attention to universal appeal and versatile usage. The company aims to enhance the lives of users by creating items that emphasize timeless appeal, reversible design, and the concept of freedom beyond age, gender, or size. A&S has featured them from the first collection and is also developing exclusive projects.