In Kashmir, under Mughal rule (1526–1756), the buta became a sign of luxury. Woven into fine wool from Himalayan mountain goats, the Kashmiri shawl became a treasured garment across cultures. By the early 19th century, European artisans began to replicate these textiles and in 1814, the town of Paisley in Scotland gave its name to the design that had already travelled so far. The loomwork evolved; the composition grew denser, more floral — yet the essence remained: a creative retelling of memory and craftsmanship across generations and continents.
It is this deeply human and universal inheritance that inspires Lavina Peswani. Drawn by hand and collaged into intricate patterns, her take on paisley is both homage and rebirth. She honours the motif’s deep history while giving it her own voice — bold, modern, and multicultural. In unexpected compositions, delicate paisleys meet structured geometrics, flowing freely yet purposefully across her scarves and textiles.
Each piece reflects Lavina’s ongoing search for connection — to the world, to the past, to the stories we carry in cloth. Her paisley is both immortal and immediate: a celebration of unity and multiculturalism, honouring where we come from, even as we move forward.