The humble beginnings of some of the most beautiful fabrics in the world.

 

With Baya ben, the weaver at Avadh nagar, Kutch.

 

The charkha, innovatively made with a bicycle tyre.

At Bhujodi, Kutch.

 

Hamir bhai at Bhujodi, Kutch demonstrates the painstakingly tedious “extra weft” technique of weaving. The fabric threads are carefully counted and the extra layer of threads that form the motifs and patterns are woven in first by hand and then by the loom.

 

The Twill weave

 

Foreground : A beautiful Kutch shawl with the identifiable “chaumukh” and “dholki” motifs.

Background : The weaver of this beautiful shawl, Kanji bhai at work in his home at Avadh nagar, Kutch.