Story of Fabrics
TGIF Motifs - Pulli Kolam: Method, meaning and mathematics
The dynamic and diverse landscape of a region is inscribed onto its weave through motifs, which also have a deeper symbolic meaning attached to it. In this week's edition of The Great Indian Fabric blog, we will be immersing ourselves into the art and science of Pulli Kolams, a centuries-old...
Silk Stories from Assam
Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra, amongst lush tea plantations, archaeological marvels and ancient pilgrimage sites lies the state renowned for its wild silk production, Assam. Rearing and weaving silk is an integral part of Assam's culture and almost every village across...
TGIF Motifs - The magic of the Mayilkann
Over centuries, the timeless Kanchipuram weave has become synonymous with certain patterns that constitute a myriad of motifs and weaving techniques. The school of design from this temple town in South India was born not just with the purpose of an aesthetic appeal but to represent the strong symbolic connotations...
The Opulence of Organza
From the vintage moments of the Victorian era, Organza was considered to be one of the prettiest fabrics with a powerful feminine allure. Its name has been derived from the term "Organzine", which is a material made from strong silk fibres twisted into strands. The word Organza first came into...
A guide to Indian prints and patterns - 2
India's foothold in the art and science of fabric weaving and printing is beyond our imagination. One such fabric printing technique which holds a glorified place in our history is the Tie and Dye, whose origins can be traced back to the times of Alexander the Great. In multiple texts,...
TGIF Motifs - Manga: The king of fruits and fabrics
Motifs are the foundational element upon which a pattern is designed and developed. With nature as a muse and inspiration from various cultural, architectural and socio-economic factors, each motif in the Indian design directory is distinct, dynamic and full of life. They also hold the key to our past, with...
A guide to Indian prints and patterns - Part 1
India has been a cultural and creative hub long before historians prevailed. Amongst her repertoire of diverse art and craft forms, the most prized possessions include an astounding variety of hand printing techniques that go into creating beautiful patterns on fabric. Today, clusters of villages are sporadically spread across the...
The Great Indian Fabric Rudraksham - The Holy Motif from the Himalayas
A land with a diverse and distinct cultural background, India's art forms are differentiated through its reflection of local traditions, landscapes and customs. Historians who have traced and mapped this creative evolution of our community, have come across multiple findings which show that our country was much ahead of its...
The Great Indian Fabric's Ageless Annapakshi Motif
The divine swan otherwise known as "Annapakshi" in Sanskrit, is a mythical bird that has been revered for its grace and beauty for centuries. Legend says that this bird flew down to Earth from heaven. Its elegant feathers and crest resemble the peacock while its body and beak bear semblance...
The Captivating Weaves of Chanderi
An ethnic weave that is characterised for its lustrous appearance and featherlight texture is the Chanderi saree. The craft was initially practised by the Muslim weaving community and later became native to Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh when the Koshti weavers from Jhansi migrated and settled in this quaint town during...
The Splendour Of Shibori
The ancient art form that binds India and Japan is Shibori. The word comes from "shiboru", which means " to wring or squeeze." This traditional Japanese technique originated during the 7th century and involves tie-dyeing fabrics by crumpling, twisting, stitching and folding it in several ways to create beautiful patterns....
