Opening

Material Culture will host an event to celebrate the unveiling of the Padmini boutique line in the store, on November 17, from 6-10 PM. The evening is free and open to the public, and will feature live music, refreshments, door prizes, and a champagne toast at 8 PM. Below is additional information about the performers at this event: A life-long singer, Ramesh Vagheri studied music in his homeland of India, bringing the rich musical styles of devotional Bhajan, and Kirtan, and the poetic Ghazal to the United States, where he know lives. Daniel Johnson is a Philadelphia-based Tabla player and percussionist. Extensive study of Tabla in the US and India, along with performances with Spoken Hand, jazz legend Badal Roys “Dharma Jazz”, Grammy-winner Paul Winter Consort, and many others have kept him moving further into the subtle pulsations of his musical aesthetic. In Philadelphia, he is active playing with The Vehicle and with Hennessey Bonfire. Performance by tribal belly dancer Kirie will accompany the music for much of the evening. Kirie has been dancing for seventeen years, and now dances with Zadyra & the Underbellies and Troupe Syn. She is the owner of Midnight Orchid Design, the manager of a [...]

Material Culture is excited to present a new home for Colors by Padmini, a designer line of soft furnishings, clothing and accessories inspired by the rich hues and vibrant spirit of Indian textiles and the subcontinent itself. These items of fashion and home décor are all individually crafted by hand. Padmini sources handmade textiles and authentic raw materials, including vintage saris, traditional Indian silk, and antique bridal dresses of sequenced fabric, to create luminous fashion pieces and iridescent furnishings. Home decor products now available at Material Culture through Padmini include bedding sets, pillows, shams, bolsters, table runners, sheer window treatments, ottomans and poufs, while the fashion line includes maxi skirts and dresses, wrap skirts, belts, tops, tunics, jackets, scarves, shawls, jewelry and bags. Colors by Padmini is the creation of Iris Shamir, who was given the name ‘Padmini Anand’ by her spiritual teacher in India. With a fine arts background and a degree in Interior Design from London University, Iris travelled to India, immediately finding there a rich source for inspiration. She travelled extensively, exploring textile traditions from northern Kashmir, across the Ladhak desert, to Varanasi, Goa and southern India, Pune, and Mumbai. Eventually, her route back north took her [...]