CRAFT TECHNIQUE: Khadi + Kala Cotton + Indigo + Kutch Embroidery (Rabari)
KHADI is any cloth that is hand spun and hand woven. A 5,000-year-old craft that Mahatma Ghandi rekindled in India almost 100 years ago. Khadi became not only a symbol of revolution and resistance, but also the face of an Indian identity! It marked the start of a democracy in the true sense.
KALA COTTON, the Kutch's indigenous cotton, apart from requiring a very little investment and being high tolerant to diseases and pests, is grown within a rain fed agriculture, without any pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
INDIGO is a highly revered dye among the craftsmen. They believe that a cow that drinks the solution becomes stronger and that if they eat with Indigo-stained hands, there won’t be any problems with the food or digestion. They say that Indigo has the power to turn anything natural. Wearing Indigo dyed fabric is thereby considered auspicious.
RABARI embroidery is unique to the nomadic Rabaris and to it is essential the use of mirrors in a variety of shapes. Rabaris outline patterns in chain stitch and then decorate them with a regular sequence of mirrors and accent stitches, in a regular sequence of colors. The style is ever evolving, and in abstract motifs Rabari women depict their changing world.
KHAMIR works to strengthen and promote the rich artisanal traditions of Kutch district (Gujarat, India). Khamir was born in 2005 and it serves as a platform for the promotion of traditional handicrafts and allied cultural practices, the processes involved in their creation, and the preservation of culture, community and local environments. At Khamir, they strive to create a democratic and empowering space - a common roof under which a range of stakeholders can exchange ideas and collaborate. They work to shift consumer perspectives and raise the cultural value placed on crafts. Their vision is of a vibrant, sustainable Indian craft sector in which crafts and artisans alike are highly valued by people worldwide.
MANO ETNA TRAVEL STORY
