Beyond Words

The art of Bandhani has been passed down to the artisan by the elders of the Khatri community. It is a collective craft of artisan families living in the Kutch region of Gujarat, and speaks of a connection that is beyond spoken words. The clamped Shibori patterns on the silk panel have been created by his daughter.

The complex stitch-resist technique of Shibori has been used to make those eye-catching patterns. Tying and binding of the bandhani patterns were done by his sweet-tempered grandmother, who has a bagful of stories for those who want to listen. Dyeing was done by the artisan himself. The delicate floral and leaf handmade motifs sprinkled on the bandhani panel add to the charm. After a month of hard work, the panels were sewn together to create a wool-silk scarf of rare beauty.