Muslin Trust present at City Lit, London

The Muslin Trust (MT) was invited to deliver a special presentation at City Lit, the UK’s largest adult education college based in London’s Covent Garden.

Introduced by Taryn Khanam, the audience first heard from Dr Sonia Ashmore, who explored the rich variety of fine embroidered and woven muslins produced during the British Raj period. Her presentation also highlighted contemporary interpretations of these historic textiles by international designers. Trustee Rifat Wahhab discussed some of the earliest historical references to muslin in both Eastern and Western traditions, tracing its significance across cultures and centuries.

British-Bangladeshi designer Saif Osmani shared the Muslin Trust’s most recent work, including its co-curation of a display on Dhaka muslin for the new South Asia Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is expected to open in spring 2028.

Textile designer Anika Alamin spoke about her latest interpretation of muslin through her textile practice, reflecting on the skill and heritage of the weavers while presenting an example of her work.

Visitors had the opportunity to ask questions, view, and handle selected muslin pieces from the Muslin Trust’s archive.

Following the presentations, many visitors participated in a sari draping session led by Poppy Jaman of Saree Na Sorry. Participants learned about the cultural significance of the sari and tried out a few of the 300+ ways in which this South Asian garment can be draped.