Kachchhi Work

UIDProject

Introduction
A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft handicraft, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft, and applies to a wide range of creative and design activities that are related to making things with one's hands and skill, including work with textiles, moldable and rigid materials, paper, plant fibers, etc. Usually the term is Applied to traditional techniques of creating items that are both practical and aesthetic. aesthetic Collective terms for handicrafts include artisanry, handicrafting, crafting, and handicraftsmanship. Handicrafting has its roots in the rural craftsthe material-goods g necessitiesof ancient civilizations, and many specific crafts have been practiced for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularizations of crafts which were originally practiced in a limited geographic area.

Introduction
Many handicrafters use natural, natural even entirely indigenous, indigenous materials while others may prefer modern modern, non non-traditional traditional materials, and even upcycle industrial materials. The individual artisanship of a handicrafted item is the paramount criterion; those made by mass production or machines are not handicraft goods. Seen as developing the skills and creative interests of students, generally and sometimes towards a particular craft or trade, handicrafts are often integrated into educational systems, both informally and formally. Most crafts require the development of skill and the application of patience, but can be learned by virtually anyone. Like folk art, handicraft output often has cultural and/or religious significance, and increasingly may have a political message as well, as in craftivism. Many crafts become very popular for brief periods of time, spreading rapidly among the crafting population as everyone emulates the first examples, then their popularity wanes until a later resurgence. resurgence

Kutch District
Kutch district (also spelled as Kachchh) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. India Covering an area of 45,652 km, it is the largest district of India. Kutch literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry; a large part of this district is known as Rann of Kutch which is shallow wetland which submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same word is also used in the languages of Sanskrit origin for a tortoise. The Rann is famous for its marshy salt flats which become snow white after the shallow water dries up each season before the monsoon rains. Th di The district t i ti is also l f famous f for ecologically l i ll important i t t Banni B i grasslands with their seasonal marshy wetlands which form the outer belt of the Rann of Kutch. Kutch District is surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea in south and west, while northern and eastern parts are surrounded d db by the h Great and d Little l Rann (seasonal l wetlands) of Kutch. When there were not many dams built on its rivers, the Rann of Kutch remained wetlands for a large part of the year. Even today, the region remains wet for a significant part of year. The district had a population of 1,583,500 of which 30% were urban as of 2001.

Kutch District
The language spoken predominantly in Kutch is Kutchi language, a slightly varied dialect of standard Sindhi, to a lesser extent Gujarati, and Hindi. The script of the Kutchi language has become extinct. It is now mainly written in the Gujarati script. Samples of Kutch script are available in the Kutch Museum. The increased use of Gujarati language is mainly because of its being a medium of instruction in schools. Often, the Kutch language is mistaken as a dialect of Gujarati, however, this is not true. The Kutch language bears more grammatical similarity with Sindhi and lexical similarity with Gujarati. Kutch h is i one of f the h most prolific lifi regions i i in India di i in the h area of textile art. Kutch embroidery is dense with motifs and is one of the most beautiful forms of textile art. A variation with mirrors sewn into the embroidery is one of the signature arts of this region. An example of Kutch Embroidery - Antique Dowry Bag Within the category of Kutch embroidery there are several sub-categories as each tribe and sub-tribe produces a unique signature form of art.

Kachchhi Work
Kutch work embroidery (also known as Kachchhi embroidery) is one of the most easily identifiable styles of embroidery from Gujarat and a well patronised handicraft textile in India. Deriving its name from its places of origin, the Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat, Kutch embroidery is characterised by the use of vibrant colors, mirrors and beads and intricate and extensive needlework that embellishes the entire fabric on which it is based. Usually done on cotton or silk fabric, Kutch work embroidery involves the use of silk or woollen thread in fine stitches to create elaborate patterns, patterns and draws its inspiration from romantic, architectural and human motifs, as well as Persian and Mughal arts. The colors used are mainly green, indigo, deep red, black, yellow and ivory. The embroidery is also distinctive in its use of mirrors and beads, placed strategically p g y in between p patterns. A p popular p and recognised g example p of Kutch embroidery y is the g ghagra g choli (a traditional skirt and blouse ensemble) of Gujarat, especially worn during the Navaratri season. History traces the origin of Kutch work embroidery back to mochis, the community of shoemakers, who used to work on royal textiles and decorative objects. It is also believed that this unique style of embroidery was brought about by Kathi cattle breeders, a group of wanderers associated with Karnaof the Mahabharat, who eventually settled down to produce th characteristic the h t i ti fi fine needlework dl k di displaying l i a plethora l th of f patterns, tt moods d and d th themes.

Gagra choli
Courtesy : Sayali

Chappals

Rabari Work
Rabari basically means a clan or a community, they are known for their very rich and vast culture highlighted for their food habits and their embroidery. Rabari work also known as Rabari Bharat is an embroidery known for its its bold shapes and mythological designs taken from their desert surroundings. The Nagali earrings of the kutch rabari identifies their culture, it is called Nagali as its form closely resembles a snake. Rabari embroidery is unique to the nomadic Rabaris. Essential to Rabari embroidery is the use of mirrors in a variety of shapes. Rabaris outline patterns in chain stitch, then decorate them with a regular sequence of mirrors and accent stitches, stitches in a regular sequence of colors. colors Rabaris also use decorative back stitching, called bakhiya, to decorate the seams of women's blouses and men's kediya/ jackets. The style, like Rabaris, is ever evolving, and in abstract motifs Rabari women depict their changing g g world. Contemporary p y bold mirrored stitching g nearly y replaced a repertoire of delicate stitches --which Kala Raksha revived.

Rabari work

Rabari work

Patchwork
Patchwork work in Kutch was developed out of piecing cloth together as coverlets or working out patterns by applying pieces of clothes of different colours and textures. textures The women of different communities have their separate styles, styles the most individual being that of the Rabari and Harijan communities of Kutch. The finest work is seen on the decorative hanging which covers the quilted materials. Every bride had to have at least some pieces for her collection of clothes. Articles for daily use which were in constant use were strengthened by the decorative patch work. The colours are principally brown or black with slight use of pieces of Mashru, tie and dye and single colours of bright green, yellow, orange, red and white. The finest and slightest work known as patch work is done by the Danetah Jats of the village Thal, who makes stripes of changeable colours and designs to decorate stretched out pillows. The stripes are unbelievably tiny and pointed pieces rather than triangular and embroidered with buttonhole stitches and colourful criss-cross edgings. Wall hangings and a variety of other objects for daily use find a steady market.

Artisan Doing Patchwork

Patchwork

Patchwork

Patchwork

About the artisan

Punjanatha is an able artisan from Khavda, Kutch and has 15 years of experience under his belt, his family has been practicing these traditional crafts since decade and he specializes in purse, chappals , blankets , cushion covers , bed sheets , bag and patchwork shawls

Bibliography g p y

Garvi Gujarat National Fair and d Summit 2014

Unitedworld U it d ld Institute I tit t of f Design