Discovering Textiles from across the world

The Baluchari exhibition also resulted in bringing of a book titled Baluchars: The Woven Narrative Silks of Bengal edited by Jasleen Dhamija and brought out by Niyogi Publications, launched with the exhibition is another addition in this ongoing work to document the rich tradition of Baluchari weaving which reached its height and then vanished. The book with chapters contributed by various authors and experts, has in one place managed to collate and collect varied resources which make up the Baluchari tradition. No doubt, there must be lots of information and dimensions still unexplored, yet it does justice to the weaving which once was the cynosure of all eyes. The richly illustrated book is a feast to the eyes. The reading brings in a simplistic manner and tries to answer the various why and whats of this form of weaving. Jasleen Dhamija’s vast experience and expertise is amply evident in her chapter on Baluchari weaving. Jasleen Dhamija’s involvement with Baluchari’s revival at Be...

The world is moving towards yarns from eco friendly sources and those which are recycled and regenerated. As one researches into yarns and the various blends being developed in India, one comes across a wealth of possibilities and of course options. Though the blending is being done with cotton, there is immense potential to blend this with silk be it mulberry, tussar, eri or muga. Not only that while weaving it is possible to alternate such yarns with silk to have a blended fabric. The various blended yarns can be combined with silk be it in the warp or weft. It could be on the warp only or weft only or in a mix and match mode. One of the most innovative of entrepreneurs I have come across who is working with a host of yarns to produce some excellent fabrics is R. S. Balagurunathan (Bala) Managing Director, Anandi Enterprises. He has worked in a range of fibers, yarn and fabric involving organic cotton, project under BCI or better cotton initiative. He says, “we began in 2000 as ther...