Unique Textile Finds - Innovative Needle stitched resist dyeing!

     India is synonymous with a variety of textile techniques be it embroidery , printing or dyeing. An age old tradition that runs in families for generation , these art forms have been lovingly and laboriously handed down from father to son and perfected as the heritage passes from generation to generation.
 One such textile art form is the tie-and-dye technique that is practiced in many regions of India. Gujarat and Rajasthan excel in producing bandhani textiles while Tamilnadu excels in the age old Sungadi . Not to leave behind yarn resist-and-dyed textiles or Ikat fabrics from Pochampally in Andhra Pradesh , Sambalpur ikats from Orissa , Patola fabrics from Gujarat, India has a bouquet of fabrics to offer a textile lover. 

    I stumbled upon Mura Collective , when I was gifted a stole from my mom a few months back. I just loved the gift ! and as my nature goes I had to find out more about  it. I was amazed when I realised how this beautiful work of art had been created and wanted to share with you 

   This fabric is created by the technique of resist dyeing ( in simpler words - a method of  preventing dyes from entering certain areas or blocking dyes from penetrating certain areas)  to create a pattern . In this case  the above stole,  has been folded into half lengthwise , the pattern traced and machine stitched  . After which natural dyes have been used to dye the fabric , and here the color indigo has been used . Once the process of dyeing has taken place , the stitches have been painstakingly removed . The area having the machine stitching  is still the background color white , and the tiny machine stitches have produced a beautiful and sharp pattern . 

   Mura-Collective facebook page has lots of eyecandy so do look up their page.  Their collection  will amaze you!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mura-Collective/203311819695173

 Is`nt it amazing ?



Motidana

Designs to Dye for :

The tie -and- dye or Bandhani fabrics of India are unsurpassed in their beauty . The nimble fingers , tyeing each fold or pinch of fabric  with acute concentration is a sight to behold ! The villages of Kutch , Gujarat and Rajasthan create beautiful Bandhani  sarees and fabrics . From tiny mustard seeds to small pebbles are used to resist dye the design . Only on completion of dyeing and opening out the knot does the true beauty and skill of the craftsman emerge !
 Adhereing to my topic of Peacock as a design symbol , here`s a look at these beautiful art forms ,

This saree is from Jamnagar in Gujarat , and the tying is done with mustard seeds . To make the tieing a little easier and faster, the fabric is 1st folded  lengthwise and then tied ,as seen in the 1st and 2nd picture. (Notice the size of  the dots )

 A beautiful cotton saree from Mandvi in Kutch , resembles the Madurai Sungadi . Though the pattern is not that of the peacock , the peacock motif border induced me to add this to my collection

Another textile art of India that has used peacock in it`s design form is the Ikat and Patola . Based on the resist method of dyeing, the warp yarns are 1st laid flat and the dyeing is carried out with  brush painting on these warps. After fixing the colour, the weaving is done . A lot of presicion is required to obtain a sharp and clear design

So what do you think? Isnt India a land of innumerable art forms of Textiles? I think the list is inexhaustible , ................................. and yet to follow is the embroidery forms of this beautiful bird !

Ciao  , Till next post then ,

Motidana