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Textile Discoveries
Excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have unearthed bone needles and wooden spindles, clearly suggesting that homespun cotton was used to make garments. In fact, fragments of woven cotton have also been discovered from these sites. Historically renowned for it’s textiles, India’s woven love story dates back several centuries. The first mention of textiles in India…
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The Butchered Art of Mirrorwork
For those familiar with an Indian flea market, the sight of a gypsy woman clad from top to bottom in beefy silver jewelry and a bright, ornate costume is probably not a new one. She may be found hard-selling here wares ranging from heavily embroidered shoulder bags, bedspreads or table runners. There’s truly nothing fascinating…
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Heart of Glass – Thewa
I’ve been looking around for some new jewelry. I began thinking about different mediums and started contemplating glass. Glass has the ability to take on the robust colour qualities of gems like emeralds and rubies, yet it is unfortunate that most glass jewelry you can find has a uninspired flea market feel to it. In…
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Peeking into the Past: Jaypore visits noted revivalist Suraiya Hasan
Suraiya Hasan, or Suraiya Apa as she is fondly called, is a bundle of energy as she flits around her weaving unit on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. The clacking of looms fills the air around this octogenarian as she goes about instructing her class of weavers on the nearly-extinct technique of himroo weaving.…
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In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
What do you sell, O ye merchants? Richly your wares are displayed, Turbans of crimson and silver, Tunics of purple brocade, Mirrors with panels of amber, Daggers with handles of jade. What do you weigh, O ye vendors? Saffron, lentil and rice. What do you grind, O ye maidens? Sandalwood, henna and spice. What do…
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Odisha Renaissance: Reviving Languishing Crafts
Along with Odisha’s famed ikats, there are many more art forms, designs and weaving techniques yet to be popularized and find a foot hold in the markets outside Odisha. We are already witnessing slow death of many such textiles – dhala pathar, kala pathar, siminoi, habaspuri, kusumi, original cotton Bomkai etc. In the post-liberalisation phase…
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Re-invent your Home with some Pretty Fabric!
Have you been wanting to do up your space since forever and just can’t afford the time? Are you on a budget and don’t know how and where to get started? Fret not, for help is at hand. Jaypore scours through its favorite décor blogs (we do it all the time!) and gets you décor inspiration…
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Re-interpreting Rohida
A brush with India has always been very stimulating for many a wandering soul, especially souls with a creative bent of mind. For years, travelers, writers, photographers, artists and the spiritually inclined have been drawn to this land that is a living laboratory of the most varied cultures and traditions, landscapes and streetscapes, the many…
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The Regional Flavours and Global Language of IKAT Weaving
The word IKAT is derived from the Indonesian word Mengikat, meaning to tie. It is a technique that employs resist dyeing similar to tie and dye on warp and/or weft threads prior to weaving. Alteration to the bindings and dyeing in more than one colour and removal of all bindings produce multicoloured patterns on weaving.…
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Tree of Life: The Many Unique Interpretations of this Ancient Symbol
The Tree of life concept appears in science, philosophy, religion and mythology and alludes to the interconnection of all life on our planet, serving as a metaphor for our common descent. It is a symbol that appears in nearly every ancient culture. With the branches reaching for the sky, and deep roots into the earth,…
Storytellers of Wonder 