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acts as a repellent against insects thus giving the
product longevity. It generally takes between one
and three days to weave a textile, though more
elaborate compositions take six days.
Apart from the woven motifs and patterns, some
textiles also bear treatments and embellishments
with processes of tie-dyeing, printing and
embroidery work done by members of other
communities for their traditional attire. We give the
cloth woven by us to the Khatris for block printing
and tie-dyeing; and to the Ahirs and the Rabaris
for embroidery. After this it is complete and ready.
It is then washed if required, and ironed.
In 1976, Haja Suja Vankara, a weaver from Bhujodi
village, visited Pragati Maidan, and saw shawls
produced from acrylic yarn, a synthetic yarn. He
realised that these were easier to produce and
provided economical options. Further, acrylic
yarns were available in a wide range of colours.
This chance encounter led to the introduction of
acrylic yarn in Kutch in 1980-81 and the use has
grown ever since. Around 1995, silk yarns and
pure woollen yarns were introduced. Before that,
we wove local sheep wool yarn hand-spun by the
Rabari community.
Diversifying the Craft
Today, our family weaves with different yarns.
These are acrylic yarns from Ludhiana; Merino
wool yarns from Ludhiana and Himachal Pradesh;
deshi
sheep wool mill spun yarns from Bikaner in
Rajasthan and deshi
sheep wool, hand-spun yarns
from Barmer in Rajasthan; Eri and Muga silk yarns
from Assam; Mulberry silk yarns from Bengaluru;
Tussar silk yarns from Bihar; and cotton mill-spun
yarns from Bhuj and Ahmedabad.
Despite numerous technological advancements,
handloom fabrics still captivate the imagination
of many. This is not only because of their
high aesthetic value, but also owing to their
environment-friendly qualities and comfort. My
younger brother Vankar Devji Bhimji and I along
with our families are proud to carry forward our
traditional heritage of weaving. We are grateful to
Paramparik Karigar for the support extended to
us. Our textiles have been appreciated in urban
markets and the demand for our textiles has
meant that our weaving traditions; the tie-dye,
block-printing and embroidery skills of artisans
in Kutch; and the age-old relationships between
various communities in Kutch have been nurtured
in the 21st century.
