Textile
Craft
Textile craft is admired and reputed all across the globe due to its
durability and quality of texture. India has fertile , plentiful and
rich tradition of textiles and embroidery craft. Indian textile are
famous in the ancient period as well as now as we have vast number of
trade links with the outside world. The most finesse example of India's
rich textile tradition is “ ancient sculptures “ . Each area
has its own textile , qualifying it in terms of weaving patterns,
techniques, designs , colors and texture. Example of various popular
Indian textile tradition are :
- Phulkari Art
- Brocade textiles
- Batik
- Block Printing
- Indian Handlooms
- Textile Design
- Cotton
- Wool
- Silk
- Textile fabric
Like the diversity of Indian cultures, there is diversity of Indian
textiles as well. All types of fabrics are weaved in India, representing
different states. It is seen here that people in Kerala, southern part
of India and people in Bengal, eastern part of India use white as the
dominant color while the Kutch and Kathiawar regions in Gujarat, to
parts of Haryana, Rajasthan has an incredible mix of hundreds of vibrant
colors.
Embroidery Tradition
Embroidery is such a craft when worked it proclaims and glories the
cloth. In India , embroidery craft is the major tradition practiced and
done at various places. As Indians are fond of beautiful clothing thats
why embroidery craft has gained vast popularity. Some examples of
popular Indian embroidery craft are :
- Chikankari: Chikankari embroidery is originated in Uttar
Pradesh. It is done on very fine fabric like chiffon , georgette and
other fine fabrics. The thread preffered in this embroidery is
usually of white color. Doing this work is very commendable part
therefore it is done mostly in an open space.
- Kantha: Kantha embroidery involves simple running
stitches. It is done by laying the clothes in layers and then
stitching them together. To give an extra ordinary look to cloth (
mostly carpets ) kantha embroidery is done.
- Kashmiri: Kashmiri embroidery is known for its beauty and
elegance. Taking inspiration from beautiful nature around embroiders
draw this embroidery. Base cloth can be wool or cotton and are
available in mostly light shades like crème , white etc.
- Kathi: Kathi embroidery is somewhat different from other
types of embroidery. In this embroidery patterns which are to be
drawn are fixed such as either they are flowers , peacocks , animal
motifs . Base cloth preferred is satin or silk and thread is of silk
floss or cotton.
- Rabari: This embroidery is the representation of our
culture , life , beliefs and myths. It make use of various shapes of
mirrors such as round , rectangular , square , triangular , beak
shaped. Its style is not static , it keeps on changing.
- Mirror: Mirror embroidery is one of the most attractive
craft done in India. It is applied with other stitches to enhance
the impact of pattern. It is used to accentuate the appearance.
- Zardozi: It is the imperial metal embroidery which
embellish the costumes , wall hanging , scabbard or rich trapping of
horses , elephant etc. Zardozi embroidery is very popular and mostly
used with soft furnishing products. It is done with very bright
colors like gold or silver.
- Phulkari: It is the traditional punjabi embroidery art.
Phulkari which means growing flowers is applied on a handspun khadi
cloth with simple stitches using silk yarn known as pat. Apart of
shading and variations done in the designing various stitches either
vertical , horizontal or diagonal are made on it.
Design
Textile and embroidery craft is an ancient craft in which designs ,
pictures and images are created by stitching strands of some material on
to a layer of another material. Textile artists work on non – woven
traditional material like leather , felt as well as non traditional
material like plastic etc.
In earlier days , hand embroidery is done which is applied without the
help of sewing machine or tools. Now , hand embroidery is replaced with
machine embroidery which saves hard work and time. It is done on
individual pieces as well as mass clothing products.
Prominent Places
Some places which are very famous and popular for their textile and
embroidery work are :
- Gujarat: It is believed that textile and embroidery craft
of Gujarat graced the court of the legendary King Solomon. One of
the famous work in Gujarat linked with embroidery is Sheeshedar or
mirror work.
- Kutch: It is famous for its small and intricate patterns
which are designed on textile texture and as embroidery design.
- Bhuj: It is famous for its silk embroidery and other work
which are considered as combination of style and technique.
- Rajasthan: It is famous for its mirror work done on
clothes as people here prefer to wear cross stitch, satin stitch and
buttonhole stitch dresses along with mirrors.
- Kashmir: It is famous for its kashmiri embroidery. By
taking inspiration from beautiful nature of kashmir embroiders draw
and weave this embroidery.
