Welcoming the guests and treating them right is a part of the Indian tradition and culture. At JDS, the same culture to welcome every client and customer as our own has been imbibed and passed down through the generations. In the same light, we at JDS also got our own moment of hosting when Kokila Dhirubai Ambani along with Tina Ambani visited JDS to celebrate Banarasi heritage.
Who came?
The matriarch of the family, Kokila Dhirubai Ambani came to grace our store with her daughter-in-law and once a superstar herself Tina Ambani, and this blog is a celebration of that visit and how enthralled we are.
Ambanis, promoting Indian Culture and Heritage
The Ambanis are the power family in the Indian and world Business scenario and they rose to this position owing to their grit, determination, perseverance, and business acumen. What the world has been witnessing for decades is also their philanthropist and humanitarian work. Last year when the Mukesh Ambani family hosted the famous Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), they drew the attention of the world and we saw some gorgeous banarasi sarees and dresses made using banarasi handloom fabrics.
Ambanis and their Love for handloom Banarasi sarees
Ambani Bahus have been seen flaunting classic tastes in heritage handloom sarees and attires. Nita Ambani, the famous face of Ambani household wore a heritage lavender banarasi and we have recently written about it.
Nita Ambani shines in a heritage lavender Banarasi Saree
The royal blue saree she wore at the NMACC launch is a bespoke piece which shows our artisan’s talent and Nita Ji’s sartorial choices at ease. It is a royal piece and not just because of the royal blue colour, but the work on it is very regal. The gold thread weaving works throughout in floral patterns. There is a Mughal influence in jaal pattern used where floral centrepiece includes a distinct vermilion hue and breaks the monochromatic look with a dash of red meenakari. The pallu in itself has a rectangular piece of golden work but the floral vibes and patterns work throughout the borders, like a perfect framing of the masterpiece. The love for emeralds and diamonds in the Ambani household has been a known thing and Nita ji wore a statement gold choker necklace in a more relaxed way and accentuated with a layer of grapes sized emeralds strung in a necklace. Her gold and emerald jhumka meet a match in royal opulence with the single set of kadas she wore in each hand. While the green of the stones help the royal blue shine brighter, the meenakari of the saree meet a companion in the striking red bindi. The look, a complete guide for anyone choosing opulence and reality.
Kokila ben and Tina ji at JDS Banaras
Let us draw your attention to this picture here.
That is a beautiful picture that we at JDS will cherish for a lifetime as the beautiful Ambani matriarch and Tina Anil Ambani ji are sitting in our century old JDS Store, in the ancient city of Banaras (Vanarasi), holding a striped, pink banarasi handloom saree and are posing just to let us capture the picture for our memories. This saree got luckier, or we did, we cannot describe, maybe the present generation leader and chairperson of the JDS Banaras (beaming on the extreme right), Rajesh Shah can explain but to hear his account come to the JDS store. However what we can say is we are grateful. Kokila ben is known for being the rock behind the emergence of her husband, late Dhirubhai Ambani ji’s as the founder of Reliance Industries, a name now the world reckons. She not only supported his journey, she raised two sons who are upholding the father’s legacy and carrying it with sturdy shoulders. Such a woman of substance came to our store and we cannot help but beam.
Tina Ambani is a name known to all 70 & 80s cinema lovers as she was the gorgeous Tina Munim, who essayed the roles of an emerging Indian woman and yet rooted deeply in India with such prowess that the screens lit up with her mere presence. For being an actress of such high substance, she is also known for being the pillar behind her husband’s growth and the mother of two emerging entrepreneur sons.
How did the JDS Store tour went
Oh we are gushing even till date. Kokila ji was at our store with all her attentiveness. She handpicked and saw things and we could see an ascension in taste and refinement with every saree and fabric she touched. Tina ji, known for her sophistication was in the same league as she observed everything JDS store had to offer. Both the ladies interacted with our staff and chose sarees for themselves. They saw and discussed the various sarees and thereby, added their own support to the cause of the heritage sarees and became culture endorsers for us.
Final Address:
It is always an enriching moment when we see the prominent influential names of the world drop every attire and fabric available and pick a Banarasi, but JDS Banaras has been gratified by the Ambani family gracing us time and again. Earlier, we have seen them wear the handcrafted sarees we design and curate, but this time, this visit has helped us feel an assurance. Our faith that we are indeed doing something worthwhile is humbling us further. This visit has made our love for Banarasis eternal.
Sacred Weaves:
The Ambanis are known for their royal choices, so JDS felt glossy as they visited us. Sacred Weaves also accepted blessings percolation to us from our parent organization. We would love to create more magical looks for the Ambanis and all the gorgeous ladies out there, even if they wish to choose a meenakari brocade banarasi, or an uppada banarasi. The options are many. Even for the gifting range, we have readymade sets.