Organized by the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London, the exhibition The Fabric of India,on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum (October 19, 2018–January 6, 2019) is the first to explore the dynamic and multifaceted world of handmade Indian textiles from the fifteenth century to today.

Showcasing the finest examples from the V&A’s world- renowned collection together with masterpieces from international partners, leading fashion and textile designers and additions from the Cincinnati Art Museum’s permanent collection, this exhibition features over 170 handmade objects. Visitors can expect a stunning range of historic dress, heirloom fabrics and cutting edge fashion.

The exhibition is organized in six thematic sections, exploring courtly splendor exemplified by sumptuous fabrics and dress alongside finely crafted sacred cloth used for religious worship. Centuries of global trade shaped by the export of Indian textiles is examined, illustrating a robust aesthetic exchange between artisans and their clients. The political power of textiles is considered through their use as a symbol of power and protest in the quest for independence in the early twentieth century.

Today, Indian designers and artists are adapting traditional techniques to create exciting new fashion, art and design for a global audience, giving India’s textile history a new relevance in the modern world. Innovative dress by contemporary fashion designers, including Manish Arora, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Abraham and Thakore, Rahul Mishra, Aneeth Arora and others will be on display.

The Fabric of Indiawas on view at the V&A from October 3, 2015–January 10, 2016. It will travel to The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida after its run in Cincinnati.