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International Rural Women’s Day: 15th October
International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. – United Nations To celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity I start my journeys to the clusters I travel to for my work. Be it a…
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Mithi
An insatiable desire to explore, a creative bent of mind, and a free-spirited soul, if you tick any (or all) of these boxes, chances are that also reflects your wardrobe a bohemian aesthetic. Jaypore’s freshest capsule of kurtas with embroidered vintage yokes and tassels, on a canvas of moody solids, borrows inspiration from the nomadic…
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An Ode To Kutch
This collaborative edit from Jaypore is an ode to the people of Kutch, who infuse the dry landscape with the bright, bold colors of their textiles. Revel in the heritage of traditional Kutchi weaving from the looms of master weaver, Vankar Murji Hamir. This collection of tassel trimmed cotton stoles, dupattas, and sarees, has been…
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Why the ‘Living Lightly: Journeys with Pastoralists’ exhibition is important
Living Lightly: Journeys with Pastoralists is a special exhibition that is on at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi till December 18th, 2016. Curated by Sushma Iyengar, it tells the story of pastoralism through craft, art, food, poetry and music. It creates a platform for intersection and interaction for pastoral communities from…
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The Grand Old Lady of Kutch: Chandaben Shroff (1933 – 2016)
The driving force behind Shrujan – Chandaben Shroff – passed away on August 23 at the age of 83. Fondly known as Kaki to everyone who had met her, Chandaben was a pioneer in the field of crafts conservation as she began working with artisans much before anyone else. As someone who has lived in…
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Wallflowers
Every society continuously draws from its own past to re-define its collective aesthetic and it is quite often visible in clothing fashions, decorations in the home and of course in the revival of ideas. In this spirit it is a great idea and one that is rapidly gaining ground, to use vintage lithographs, advertising collaterals…
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Ajrakh Tales – Re-Contextualizing an Age Old Textile on the Contemporary Scene
The elegant symmetry of geometric patterns, the waltz of Indigo & madder dyes, and the minor imperfections that add to its allure… this is what forms the syntax of an ancient craft like Ajrakh. Like a skilled raconteur, the standard 3 meter length of an Ajrakh print tells tales of its invigorating history, the many…
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An Uncommon Journey
Design in India permeates everything we do. Its in our clothes, our buildings, our temples, even in the pots and pans we use in the kitchen. In this plentiful land of many seasons and myriad languages, of ancient civilizations and constant influx of new peoples; every material possession has become a canvas for expression. It…
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The Embroidery of Life: Needle Crafts and Colors of Kutch
Amidst the barren desert landscape of the western border towns of India, smatterings of color are a representation of life, appearing as adornments on the bodies of the beautiful tribes. Embroidery, here, is not a glorious vocation but part of the daily fabric of how a day is spent. It isn’t uncommon to walk among…
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The Vankars of Bhujodi
The festive vibrance of embroidered textiles is the natural show stealer within Kutch textiles, but the subtler, elegant outcome from the rhythmic clacking of Bhujodi’s Vankar family of weavers is not far behind in appeal. The Vankars or weavers of Kutch weave colorful threads on the loom, with the yarn coming from Bhujodi, Ludhiana, Rajasthan…
Storytellers of Wonder 