A collection of illustrations that I had illustrated using both manual and digital mediums for the Craft Cluster Initiative held by NIFT New Delhi, Ministry of Textiles for the region of Kutch Gujarat.
The collection of illustrations are the women who empower themselves through their intricate skill of their embroidery everyday to carry forward their legacy in modern times. This was an ode to those women who strive everyday to bring us the vibrant colours of Kutch, through stylised illustrations.
KUTCH EMBROIDERY -1 SUF EMBROIDERY
Suf is a painstaking embroidery done by the Sodha Rajputs and Meghwaad Maru community of the Kutch region in Gujarat, India. The embroidery is based on a triangular motif called suf. The motifs are geometric and are inspired from the flora and fauna around. Colourful threads are satin stitched to make these motifs. They are very intricate and require a lot of patience. Materials like mirrors are also used along with threads to adorn the embroidery. The community practising this, migrated from Pakistan to India as refugees during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. The women did embroidery in their leisure time and stitched embroidered garments for their wedding and their in-laws. The embroidery has been practiced since centuries, but many people have given up the age old tradition, because of the shift into other occupations for earning their daily bread. However there are a number of families, who are still practising the craft and they are not ready to give up, because if they do so, they will loose their identity. Many initiatives by the government and some NGOs have been taken in order to preserve the craft and the heritage of the community. Every piece of embroidery narrates it own story through the women who embroider them.
Suf is a painstaking embroidery done by the Sodha Rajputs and Meghwaad Maru community of the Kutch region in Gujarat, India. The embroidery is based on a triangular motif called suf. The motifs are geometric and are inspired from the flora and fauna around. Colourful threads are satin stitched to make these motifs. They are very intricate and require a lot of patience. Materials like mirrors are also used along with threads to adorn the embroidery. The community practising this, migrated from Pakistan to India as refugees during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. The women did embroidery in their leisure time and stitched embroidered garments for their wedding and their in-laws. The embroidery has been practiced since centuries, but many people have given up the age old tradition, because of the shift into other occupations for earning their daily bread. However there are a number of families, who are still practising the craft and they are not ready to give up, because if they do so, they will loose their identity. Many initiatives by the government and some NGOs have been taken in order to preserve the craft and the heritage of the community. Every piece of embroidery narrates it own story through the women who embroider them.
KUTCH EMBROIDERY- 2 KHAREK EMBROIDERY
From the community of the Meghwals, in the region of Kutch, Gujarat, Kharek is one such embroidery in which the motifs are first outlined in black with running stitches and filled with colorful silk satin stitches. The community which practices this embroidery, migrated from Marwar in Rajasthan to Sindh in Pakistan in the 17th Century, and then settled in Kutch after the Indo- Pak war in 1971. It is an intricate embroidery, where the embroider starts to embroider from the wrong side of the fabric and then the geometric grid motifs are made on the right side of the fabric. Mirrors are accompanied along with the colorful threads to accentuate the beautify of the motifs. The earthy as well vibrant colourful threads have so many things to tell through their beauty, but it is our eyes that need to recognise their story. Today, there are many families who still practice this embroidery because they want to keep their tradition alive, but it is a time consuming process, so the younger generations are not keen on learning the craft often.
Here you can notice a woman, illustrated, wearing a Kanjari (a traditional blouse ) with Kharek embroidery, she has also been shown wearing an Odhni (veil), the traditional costume for the women in the community.
From the community of the Meghwals, in the region of Kutch, Gujarat, Kharek is one such embroidery in which the motifs are first outlined in black with running stitches and filled with colorful silk satin stitches. The community which practices this embroidery, migrated from Marwar in Rajasthan to Sindh in Pakistan in the 17th Century, and then settled in Kutch after the Indo- Pak war in 1971. It is an intricate embroidery, where the embroider starts to embroider from the wrong side of the fabric and then the geometric grid motifs are made on the right side of the fabric. Mirrors are accompanied along with the colorful threads to accentuate the beautify of the motifs. The earthy as well vibrant colourful threads have so many things to tell through their beauty, but it is our eyes that need to recognise their story. Today, there are many families who still practice this embroidery because they want to keep their tradition alive, but it is a time consuming process, so the younger generations are not keen on learning the craft often.
Here you can notice a woman, illustrated, wearing a Kanjari (a traditional blouse ) with Kharek embroidery, she has also been shown wearing an Odhni (veil), the traditional costume for the women in the community.
KUTCH EMBROIDERY - 3 RABARI EMBROIDERY
The nomadic or semi-nomadic group of tribal communities, known as the Rabaris, practice Rabari Embroidery in the region of Kutch, Gujarat. They were originally from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and cattle herding was their main occupation, while the women in the community practised embroidery in their leisure time, while chit-chatting, singing folk songs in their courtyards.
The 500 year old Rabari embroidery uses a variety of bright colors like white, green, saffron, red, blue, violet to make thick distinct motifs. The motifs are geometric or abstract, and are made using woolen or silk threads. They are inspired by mythology and daily life. An embroider also makes the use of large sized mirrors in various shapes to beautify the embroidery. It is usually done on bright colored cotton or silk fabrics with stitches like chain stitch, button hole stitch, herringbone stitch and a variety of other stitches.
Today the Rabaris, make products like bags, blouses, clutches, soft toys, shawls to sell them in national and international markets. They have also started making profits by going online.
This craft is a time taking process, the embroiders take hours to finish one motif, but despite the challenges faced, they still continue to practice it even today and look forward to carry their tradition in the future as well.
The nomadic or semi-nomadic group of tribal communities, known as the Rabaris, practice Rabari Embroidery in the region of Kutch, Gujarat. They were originally from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and cattle herding was their main occupation, while the women in the community practised embroidery in their leisure time, while chit-chatting, singing folk songs in their courtyards.
The 500 year old Rabari embroidery uses a variety of bright colors like white, green, saffron, red, blue, violet to make thick distinct motifs. The motifs are geometric or abstract, and are made using woolen or silk threads. They are inspired by mythology and daily life. An embroider also makes the use of large sized mirrors in various shapes to beautify the embroidery. It is usually done on bright colored cotton or silk fabrics with stitches like chain stitch, button hole stitch, herringbone stitch and a variety of other stitches.
Today the Rabaris, make products like bags, blouses, clutches, soft toys, shawls to sell them in national and international markets. They have also started making profits by going online.
This craft is a time taking process, the embroiders take hours to finish one motif, but despite the challenges faced, they still continue to practice it even today and look forward to carry their tradition in the future as well.
Here you can see the woman embroidering a bright piece of fabric using thick, colorful yarns and mirrors. She has been shown wearing an Odhni (veil, which is always black) and a Kanchali (a traditional blouse of the Rabari women) which has raglan sleeves, a backless back (held together by strings/ thread extensions) and has gathers in the bust area.
