Discovering Textiles from across the world

  One of my recent visits to the Weaver’s Service Centre in Delhi to get some information on Master Craftsmen awardees proved an eye opener to the vast potential and vast information source that the Weaver’s Service Centre opened under the aegis of the DC Handlooms is. Meant to be a centre to disseminate information, collect, collate propagate weaving, the base has been to develop a vast repertoire on the textile especially the handloom tradition of the country. There are 28 Weaver’s Service Centre established across the country. The country is broadly divided into four zones – North, South, East and West. There is one nodal WSC (headquarter) in each zone. Each zone has several WSC representative of the particular State which caters to the weaving centers in that geographical belt. The vastness of the weaving heritage in the country is such that there are weavers in every village assimilating a host of techniques. In the North East, weaving is done nearly in every home. Thus the Zo...

  PROJECT GAMCHA – Rangila Dhaga - Gamcha – what? Just a towel, did you say that…well Project Gamcha by Dastkaari Haat Samiti made it that and beyond. Taking the humble gamcha or towel, they have created a collage, design scape of what can be done with these wondrous weaves. The handloom gamcha has found its place in the sun…actually – the sun, the moon and the stars. The ordinary gamcha gets its moment under the sun. Taken out from the unsung ordinary to the extraordinary. It has been able to achieve two folds, one to document the various traditional handwoven towels made in the country and two provide a method using the same fabric for apparel, sarees and more. Gamcha for the uninitiated is the towel that is commonly used everywhere. It is used at home by the family to dry oneself as a towel. However, it comes out on its own when it is used by men. Most men in villages have a towel or an anghavastra on them. It has a host of versatile uses..yes it is ideal to spread on the ...