Storytellers of Wonder

Category: Crafts

  • Purkal Stree Shakti Samiti: Empowering Lives in a Himalayan Hamlet

    In a rural village outside Dehradun known as Purkal, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, a society has dedicated their resources to enhancing the lives of the disadvantaged women of the Community by empowering them. Purkal Stree Shakti Samiti (PSSS) defines itself as ‘an organisation for empowering the women of Purkal’. Many families in the area lack basic…

  • Mashru Project by Raw Mango: Celebrating A Lost Legacy

    The word ‘mashru’ comes from the Arabic word ‘shari’a’ that means ‘permitted by Islamic law’, an allusion to the prohibition of wearing pure silk fabrics by Muslim men, citing laws in the Quran that restrains luxury in their lifestyle. Mashru is a mixed fabric composed of a smooth silk surface and soft cotton backing, thus making…

  • Bandha Re-Interpreted: The Famed Ikat of Odisha

    Indian Ikat particularly from Odisha is admired for extraordinary illustration in resist technique. Nuapatna village in the cuttack district of Eastern Odisha is famous for the religious weft ikat textile – Geeta Govinda. It was inscribed with 12th Century poems of Jayadev written in the praise of Lord Krishna. In this village weavers belonging to…

  • Resplendent Legacy: The Beloved Patola of Gujarat

    “Padi patole bhat faatey pan phite nahin”, “The design laid down in the patola may wear out, but it shall never fade.” True to this ode to its beauty, a Patola is a coveted silken textile that is believed to have been woven since the 4th century AD. According to historians the weaving was certainly…

  • Celebrating the Six Yard Wonder: The Sari School Workshop with Rta Kapur Chishti

    As Delhi took to the streets on the last weekend before Diwali, we made our way to what promised to be an exciting afternoon. While the festival of lights was slowly shining through all activities last week, we were also busy preparing to host a Pre-Diwali treat for some of our special guests… Jaypore was…

  • 5 Diwali Decor Tips For Dressing Up Your Home

    With the festival of lights only a week away, its time to start decorating the home for all the ensuing fun and frolic. To ensure you’re not caught up in decor doom trying to set things up, we’re sharing some simple and easy tips for you to experiment with. 1. Ditch the drab everyday curtains…

  • Men and Sarees

    Men and their feminine muse are not unheard of. From poetry, to art, to high fashion, the muse has inspired many a creation too. While it’s easier to understand it as a fascination for women, the concept didn’t quite sit right with us when it came to these five men and their affair with women in…

  • Bridging the Old and New Worlds: Vintage Textile Collector Mr. A. A. Wazir

    The room is layered with brightly colored phulkaris, rabari embroidered cloths and cowry shell tassels. Among them is seated a man who has spent more than forty years painstakingly building what can easily become a museum collection. At his home in Bhuj in the Kutch region of Gujarat, the septuagenarian Mr. A.A. Wazir has passionately…

  • Silken Threads: Romancing the Lustrous Kanjeevaram Saree

    Distinguished by its wide contrast borders and rich motifs, a traditional Kanchipuram (or Kanjeevaram) saree is a sight to behold. Deriving its name from the town of its birth, a Kanchipuram weave has long been a treasure of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located about 72km from Chennai, Kanchipuram gained eminence during the…

  • Wrapped in Style

    And it’s that time of the year again, when you can smell the festivity in the air! It is the birthday season (don’t you think this month is just packed with birthdays!),  the festival season, the wedding season, the Diwali season… In short it’s the gifting season! Since buying a gift for loved ones is…