Inlay of the Taj Mahal: An Inspiration for Surface Ornamentation on High Fashion Garments

Abstract

India has a rich cultural heritage of costume, art and crafts. Since decades highly developed civilizations continue to produce remarkable, eminent and ornate textiles with its distinct patterns, designs and motifs having different placements and layouts. However, escalating demands of consumers requires modication in the fashion industry with respect to design, motifs, colours, style and technique. Fashion designers used to take their inspiration from architectural buildings normally to create new clothing silhouettes. The researcher attempts to connect between 'fashion' and 'architecture', which can serve as fashion element for designers. The research attempts to document and digitize of the motifs of this architectural wonders. The purpose of the study was an attempt to interpret the technique of the beautiful inlay work of the Taj Mahal and its application to the textiles for high fashion garments. In process of designing various pictures of inlay work were documented which were classied into three categories, namely cut-away lattice, inlay and embossed carving.