The Craft Diaries - North Kutch

North Kutch

We revisited a tribe in north Kutch whom we’d collaborated with in 2019. I was so excited to meet them again and reconnect over our shared passion for embroidery.

We were warmly greeted by the village people and animals. The changes in the village were apparent, they now have water supply, electricity and have introduced brick buildings alongside their traditional mud huts.

I was sad to learn that the chief matriarch, who had inspired the craft community for years, had recently died. I met her granddaughter, who has since become the fashion designer of the village, selling her creations to the surrounding tribes.

We studied the dresses of each era and saw how they’ve changed with each generation. The women get one new dress a year so it's important the dress can accommodate a change in size by making it a loose fit with a tied belt.

This tribe originates from Pakistan and while the men are sheep and goat herders, the women earn money through their craft and have become increasingly open to visitors coming to see them and buy their creations. We wonder what impact this will have on the community.

We are looking forward to our second collaboration with the tribe and helping to support the new talent.