MAM
Chanderi’s loom goes boom as MP kicks off three-month cultural fest
MUMBAI: Chanderi lit up in a riot of colour and craft on Thursday, as the three-month ‘Chanderi Eco Retreat and Fest’ spun into action, stitching together fashion, heritage, music and adventure at one of Madhya Pradesh’s most storied destinations. Organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board with the district administration and Sunset Desert Camp, the festival aims to position Chanderi as a premier cultural and textile hub with global appeal.
Inaugurated via video message by chief minister Mohan Yadav, the opening ceremony brought heavyweight presence to the tent city. union minister of communication and DoNER, Jyotiraditya Scindia, attended as chief guest, alongside Ashoknagar collector Aditya Singh, MP tourism deputy director Yuvraj Padole, Fabindia MD William Bissell, and Tata Taneira CEO Ambuj Narayan.
To mark the launch, Madhya Pradesh Tourism rolled out a high-energy fashion show headlined by Fabindia, the opening brand of the evening. Along with Taneira, Itokri, Noize Jeans and Zee’s by Tajwar, the showcase celebrated Chanderi’s legendary handloom tradition, turning centuries-old weaving mastery into a contemporary runway spectacle.
Speaking at the event, Jyotiraditya Scindia called Chanderi “a true marvel of our heritage,” noting its unique place in Sanskrit texts and India’s living craft culture. “It is essential that this profound cultural legacy reaches every corner of the globe,” he said, praising Fabindia’s role in amplifying Chanderi artistry worldwide.
The evening then transitioned into ‘Threads of Time: The Chanderi Saga’, an immersive fashion-and-music ceremony dedicated to the region’s weaving lineage. Fabindia unveiled a specially curated collection inspired by Chanderi’s textures, motifs and iconic weave, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with the artisan community.
“For over twenty-five years, our association has been built on respect, collaboration and a shared love for the loom,” said Fabindia Ltd managing director, William N. Bissell. He added that the younger generation’s growing involvement will carry Chanderi’s legacy “to new heights with every weave.”
Beyond fashion and culture, the tent city offers a burst of adventure for visitors, Hot Air Balloon Glow Shows, ATV rides, ziplines, air-gun shooting, and a line-up of DJ nights, live bands, and a light-and-sound show narrating Chanderi’s historic past.
The festival also promises a packed five-day opening celebration, featuring naturopathy sessions, weaving workshops, buyer–seller meets, heritage walks, yoga sessions, sound meditation, laser shows, and carefully curated experiences that immerse travellers in Chanderi’s craft-rich ecosystem.
Calling Chanderi “one of Madhya Pradesh’s proudest cultural treasures,” MP Tourism Board additional chief secretary (Tourism, Culture, Home, Religious Trusts & Endowments) and MD Sheo Shekhar Shukla, said the festival is an invitation to discover a world where “history, craftsmanship and living tradition come together in the most extraordinary way.”
With its creative confluence of loom, legacy and local experiences, the Chanderi Eco Retreat and Fest sets out to transform the town into a world-class cultural destination and for the next three months, all roads lead to Chanderi.
MAM
Collective Artists Network reshuffles talent leadership
Fiona D’Souza, Jinal Jhaveri and Arjun Banerjee take expanded roles in core division.
MUMBAI: Collective Artists Network just handed the talent baton to its homegrown stars because when your agents have been building careers this long, it’s time to let them run the show. Collective Artists Network has announced the next phase of leadership for its talent management business, elevating senior agents Fiona D’Souza, Jinal Jhaveri and Arjun Banerjee to expanded roles within the division. The move strengthens the company’s foundational talent arm while it continues to grow into content creation and production-led ventures.
Each of the three has played a significant part in shaping artist careers across films, digital platforms and brand partnerships. Together they now represent the next generation of leadership for Collective’s talent operations, with a continued focus on long-term career building, strong partnerships and adapting representation to a fast-changing media landscape.
Collective Artists Network founder and Group CEO Vijay Subramaniam remains actively involved in guiding artist strategy and key relationships. He said, “Talent management has been the foundation on which Collective was built, and that philosophy continues to guide how we grow the company. As we enter this next phase, it’s important that the people leading this business have both deep context and long-term convictions.”
Collective Artists Network partner and head of talent Janahavi Rawal added, “Collective’s talent business has always been built on trust, long-term thinking, and a deep understanding of where artists want to go next. Fiona, Jinal, and Arjun have each played an important role in shaping the careers of the artists we represent, and this phase is about empowering our senior agents further while building the right support systems around them.”
The leadership evolution reflects Collective’s belief in promoting from within and creating clear ownership across verticals. In a talent world where yesterday’s agent is tomorrow’s partner, Collective isn’t just reshuffling chairs, it’s handing the spotlight to the people who’ve been quietly directing the show all along.
