Our Artisans
Krishna
Weaver
Krishna is Suresh’s younger sister and she is passionate about the family’s weaving culture.
It is thanks to youngsters like Krishna that the handloom industry is able to cater to the contemporary designs required by today’s generation of designers. Krishna has received training in Design and marketing from Somaiya Kala Vidya founded by Jody Fraser
MAHESH
Block Print Artisan
Mahesh contracted polio at a very young age and even today, struggles to walk and carry out everyday activities. But this has only made him more resolute and determined to prove himself.
Mahesh was under the care of the NGO DCCW as a child. They helped with a surgery on his leg and also introduced him to a lady, Meenakshi Bahadur, whom he calls his guardian angel. I tried to get more information on her but have found no success so far. Meenakshi introduced him to the world of tailoring and block print and continues to help him to this day.
He works his craft from a space above his house in a crowded housing area in West Delhi where he lives with his wife and two adorable little girls.
Every day, Mahesh struggles to amble up the stairs to his studio which is still unplastered, and works to the best of his ability to produce beautiful fabrics. There is so much to learn from him. He is amazingly skilled with his sewing machine and creates beautiful light Duvet covers and napkins too.
Suresh
Weaver
Vankar Suresh Parbat has been a glimmer of goodness amidst this pandemic. Our latest line of dresses has been made from fabrics handwoven on his family run looms in the village of Sarli in Kutch Gujarat.
He comes from a long line of weavers who had started out by creating handspun woolen shawls for the rabari or shepherd community that lives side by side in harmony with the weaving community. These herdsmen were their first customers, bringing their wool to made into warm blankets. As shepherd numbers dwindle Suresh has moved to weaving cloth.
His family has eight looms, mainly producing extra weft and kala cotton fabrics now. The whole family of parents, aunts, uncles and cousins have a role in the weaving process, with the women playing a special role in the extra weft weaving.
We are hoping more people appreciate the beauty of these handmade, functional fabric and choose them over machine made, to ensure a long life for the families’ looms.