In addition to being a textile artist, Meeta Mastani is a writer, lecturer, social activist, and even a professor: in 2016, she was an artist-in-residence at The University of Wisconsin, where she instructed students on print-making and design. For over twenty-five years, Meeta has worked in sustainability and community development. From this commitment to local…
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Kalamkari or “qalamkari” is a type of hand-painted cotton textile traditionally produced in Iran and India. The word is Persian, and translates into drawing with a pen—a simple-enough sounding technique, but one which is actually very time-intensive and requires a high level of artistic and technical skill. India-based artist Thilak Reddy is a master of…
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Alongside traditional products like saris and scarves, master Indian textile designer Sufiyan Ismail Khatri has recently introduced bedsheets, curtains, and carpets. “The main reason to include new products,” he explains, “is because it gives me more freedom to play with designs, patterns and placements.” Khatri is a recognized leader in the creation of akrakh printed…
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Mysterious and evocative are words that come to mind when studying the phenomenal textiles of Indian artisan Bashir Ahmad Jan. Jan’s creative eye has helped him develop a busy workshop of over fifty highly skilled artisans, who each play an integral role in producing delicately textured and colored textiles for personal adornment and for the…
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The Bengal, India-based artist collective known as SHE, or Self Help Enterprise, currently includes approximately 800 embroiderers, all of whom are joined together to make and sell centuries-old kantha garments. This ancient technique involves sewing layers of old fabric together with a running stitch, making each piece not only truly unique, but also earth-friendly. While…
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Sidr Craft is a social, artisan-based enterprise established in 1992 and led by Abdullah and Abduljabbar Khatri. They employ approximately 200 craftswomen from 8 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, India. The women are able to work from the comforts of home at their own convenience. This income is extremely valuable to their families, and in some…
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Employing strikingly elegant, meticulously crafted techniques, master Indian textile artist Asif Shaikh’s distinctive method of art-making has earned him numerous accolades. He was fascinated by the craft of embroidery from a young age, and this early interest developed into a highly refined sense of aesthetics, with a keen desire for detail and design—but also a…
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Abdulaziz and Suleman Khatri are tenth-generation bandhani artists and experts in natural dyes. Abdulaziz is also trained in water conservation and environmental concerns related to dyes. The bandhani technique involves dyeing a fabric that is tied tightly with a thread at specific points. Thousands of these tiny knots, known as bheendi, can appear on a…
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For generations, the province of Gujarat, India has been synonymous with exquisitely soft and uniquely patterned textiles, from scarves and wearable items to home goods like tablecloths and placemats. Nestled within this rich creative history, the workshop of Dahyalal Kudecha is noteworthy: not only are the items produced here vividly hued, they also contain arresting…
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Master textile artisan Mamta Varma was born and raised in Lucknow, India, a traditional epicenter of fine chikan textiles. Varma’s passion for every kind of craft and embroidery comes from her mother and aunt, who were both knitters and embroiderers. Though Varma did not initially set out to be an artist, she began making hand-embroidered…
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