“I think your products are beautiful, a marriage of nature-inspired contemporary designs using traditional techniques”

- Mariëlla Zandvliet, Category Manager, Van Gogh Museum

VINCENT VAN GOGH’S PAINTING - THE ALMOND

At Aeshaane, we draw huge inspiration from nature and that perfectly aligned with Van Gogh's legacy, particularly in pieces like the Almond Blossom. Vincent Van Gogh loved nature especially blossoming Almond trees. They were special to him as they represented awakening and hope. Beyond its visual appeal, it carries profound symbolism. Almond trees bloom in early symbolizing renewal and new life. This was significant for Van Gogh as he sought to embrace hope and happiness amidst his struggles. This common ground provided a natural starting point for a fruitful collaboration.

Further, Aeshaane's commitment to sustainable fashion, handcrafted techniques and natural materials along with our expertise in hand block printing on luxurious peace silk offered a way to bring Van Gogh's Almond Blossom to life in a modern yet wearable art form

INSPIRATION

Merging Van Gogh's iconic artwork with Aeshaane's distinct design language was a thoughtful and collaborative process that required balancing the essence of the painting with the brand's unique aesthetics and sustainable values. We began by immersing ourselves in Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom to grasp its core elements like the delicate blossoms, the organic flow of branches and the serene blue background. We also reflected on Van Gogh's intent and emotional tone in the artwork, aiming to preserve its tranquillity and connection to nature. Simultaneously, we revisited Aeshaane's own design language, which emphasizes simplicity, elegance and eco-friendly practices using peace silk and traditional hand block printing.

The next step was to find common ground between Van Gogh’s visual style and Aeshaane’s brand identity. We focused on natural motifs present in both; floral patterns, organic lines, and serene colour palettes. We then created a design framework where these elements could be seamlessly integrated, ensuring that the scarf would reflect both the original painting's spirit and Aeshaane's artisanal ethos.

Since the original painting’s intricate details and dynamic brushwork could be challenging to replicate through hand painting, we had to simplify the design without losing its essence. We styled the blossoms and branches into block-print-friendly motifs, using clean lines and elegant shapes that resonate with Aeshaane's minimalist design aesthetic. This allowed us to capture the beauty of Almond Blossom in a way that could be reproduced using traditional block printing techniques.

Another key aspect of merging the two design languages involved interpreting Van Gogh's colour palette using azo-free silk dyes. Our team of colour masters experimented with various dye mixtures to capture the serene blues, whites, ochres and greens of the painting while staying true to Aeshaane's commitment to sustainable materials. The challenge was to recreate the painting’s vibrant yet soft colors within the limitations and unique textures of our dyes and peace silk.

We then blended art with craftsmanship and translated the painting's lively brushstrokes into the tactile qualities of hand block printing. Each scarf carries subtle variations, ensuring that each piece is unique, much like an original artwork. By focusing on the hand-crafted aspect, we preserved the artisanal value that Aeshaane upholds.

The merging of Van Gogh’s artwork with Aeshaane’s design language involved multiple iterations. We created numerous sketches and samples, experimenting with different patterns, printing techniques, and dye combinations. Feedback and adjustments were made at every stage, ensuring that the final design reflected the spirit of the Almond Blossom while aligning with Aeshaane’s brand philosophy.

Lastly, we had to balance artistic expression with wearability. The focus was on creating a scarf that would feel both timeless and modern, yet elegant enough to be worn on various occasions. The delicate balance between intricate design elements and a minimalistic, versatile aesthetic was key to successfully merging the two styles. By thoughtfully combining Van Gogh's iconic imagery with Aeshaane’s dedication to sustainability and craftsmanship, we successfully created a scarf that not only pays homage to the artwork but also represents the brand’s ethos. This process resulted in a beautiful fusion of art and fashion, bringing Van Gogh’s vision to life in a way that aligns with Aeshaane’s core values.

PROCESS

Translating Van Gogh's Almond Blossom into Aeshaane's signature scarf design involved a thoughtful and meticulous process to capture the essence of the artwork while incorporating the brand's unique craftsmanship. The process began with a detailed study of Van Gogh's Almond Blossom. We analysed the painting's elements such as the delicate branches, soft white flowers and the serene blue background. Understanding the brushstrokes, colour gradients and emotional undertones of the artwork was crucial to staying true to its spirit while adapting it into a textile design.

The first step involved in translating the key elements of the painting into a pattern on paper using free hand drawing with water colours. Our artists sketched the simplified yet elegant representations of the almond blossoms and branches to be used in the scarf. It took 3 weeks to perfect the pattern on paper. The challenge was to maintain the beauty and delicacy of the original artwork while creating a design that is both adaptable for painting and hand block printing, befitting for a scarf.

In keeping with Aeshaane's artisanal approach, our artists then delicately hand painted the design onto the peace silk fabric. This traditional technique inspired by kalamkari allowed for subtle variations in each print, lending each scarf its own unique character. Artisans carefully layered colors, beginning with the background shades and moving towards the finer details like the almond blossoms. Multiple hues were used to mimic the painting’s palette, including soft blues, whites, and greens.

A critical aspect of the process was matching the colour tones of the silk dyes to those found in the painting. We identified the key colours in the artwork, focusing on the serene blue of the background, the delicate whites, pinks and ochres of the blossoms and the muted browns and greens of the branches. Each hue and gradient in the painting was examined to determine which shades need to be recreated on silk.

Achieving the exact shades seen in Almond Blossom often required mixing multiple hues. We experimented with various dye combinations, adjusting proportions to match the original painting’s colours. Before applying the colours to the actual scarves, we had to test the colours on small silk swatches. This step was crucial as the natural silk fibres may interact with the dyes differently, affecting the final colour. Testing ensured that the dyeing process produces the intended shades and that they remain vibrant yet natural-looking on the peace silk fabric.

In Van Gogh’s painting, the colours often appear layered, with subtle gradients and blends. To replicate this effect, our artisans use a multi-step dyeing process. They applied lighter shades first and build up to darker ones to mimic the painting’s nuances. This layering added depth to the design, mirroring the complex textures of the original artwork. The colour-matching process involves continuous refinement. After printing, the scarves are inspected to see if any colours need to be adjusted. If necessary, additional dye applications or washes are done to enhance or soften the hues and ensure the final product accurately reflects the essence of the painting.

KEY ELEMENTS FROM VAN GOGH’S ALMOND BLOSSOM

Van Gogh painted the Almond Blossom to celebrate the birth of his nephew, symbolizing new life and beginnings. The painting's palette of soft blues, whites and gentle greens created a tranquil and uplifting atmosphere in our workshop. As artists, we drew huge inspiration from this palette to create the scarf, however the sparingly used ochre and the greens really spoke to us like no other. While the greens embodied the struggles, ochre symbolized hope. The blossoming branches against a serene blue sky evoked a sense of hope, growth and beauty of nature's cycles. The shade of blue was difficult to achieve as it represented the real life sky. We had to add multiple hues to create the magnificent tone.

Van Gogh had the ability to find harmony in natural forms through his brushstrokes offering inspiration to integrate nature into art and design. While recreating the painting, we tried incorporating the organic shapes, flowing lines and the timeless floral patterns in our signature ‘aeshaane’ style, which typically consists of bold motifs and strong colour combinations. Almond Blossom is both simple and profound, showcasing the elegance found in minimalism. This inspires designs that value simplicity, clarity and the beauty in the small details of the natural world. Drawing from these inspirations, Aeshaane's scarf embodies renewal, elegance and the harmonious beauty of nature, much like Van Gogh’s masterpiece.

By embracing the delicate elements of Van Gogh's ‘Almond Blossom’ in the scarf design, Aeshaane aims to convey the message that fashion can be both artistic and sustainable. Additionally, it highlights the importance of supporting local artisans and preserving traditional techniques. The scarves become more than just accessories; they are statements of conscious choice, artistic appreciation and cultural heritage.

PRESS

 “We selected Neesha’s work, as we were excited about the combination of striking geometric patterns with the use of traditional techniques and materials.
The quality of the material and the feel of the handwoven silk really stood out.”

- Emily Crutcher (The Victoria & Albert Museum, London )

Our hand crafted scarves made it to the cover page of the much sought after ‘Christmas Calendar’ that year, which read –

 “To celebrate this exhibition, the V&A Shop presents a collection of beautiful scarves showcasing a rich and diverse range of distinct styles, specialist techniques and authentic materials. Neesha’s fabrics are hand-spun, printed in silk in vivid colours. The motifs range from nature-inspired to abstract geometry. Creating contemporary designs using traditional techniques, Neesha’s designs are well known and highly sought after in the fashion industry.”

- The Victoria & Albert Museum, London

It was touted by Vogue as the Best exhibition that you would see in London. Our nature-inspired motifs were showcased at the ‘Nature Festival’ soon after. Our signature ‘Alu’ (Potato) leaf pattern was one of the Best-sellers!

Our capes and kaftans hit the shelves at the Museum shop in London and their online store on www.vandashop.com and were sold out within hours of display. In a few months, we had our organic footprint in 20 other countries across the World from Paris, Italy, Belgium, Austria to Norway, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

 “Neesha Amrish begins her new Global journey; with her first stop at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, with no signs of slowing down!”

- The Indian Express

Aeshaane now retails with all the following Museums below.