Rouka: A Corridor Between Textiles Past and Present
Rouka, meaning “bodice” in Malayalam and “corridor” in Japanese, stands for clothing that connects weaver and wearer, memory and modernity. Founded in 2013 by designer Sreejith Jeevan, the label first took shape in his grandfather’s Kochi bungalow, where red oxide floors and whitewashed laterite walls became the foundation of its distinctive palette. For Jeevan, the colours red and white marked not just a beginning, but a design language that continues to anchor Rouka.
Rouka "Red South" Handwoven Cotton Saree with Appliquéd Details.
A graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Jeevan returned to Kochi with a vision to create clothes that feel both “modern old” and “nostalgic new.” In 2014, Rouka debuted at Lakmé Fashion Week through the GenNext platform, announcing a philosophy of mindful fashion that celebrates Indian handlooms while reinventing them for contemporary life...
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Further Information:
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Click here for the chance to win the Rouka Wall Hanging as part of "Win Win Win", Selvedge Issue 126, Deco.
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Image Credits:
Lead: Kathir - Pure Cotton Silk Saree with Appliquéd Details. By Rouka.
All other images courtesy of Rouka and as credited in image captions.