In a market, Chitra chanced upon a little bag from Afghanistan, which led her to research its tribal origins.
Gold and beadwork adorn this traditional headdress, which was one of Chitra’s first pieces for her collection of textiles.
A simple design, minute satin stitches, and fabulous colors in the base fabric and stitching drew Chitra to this suzani textile.
With no flowers or animals, the geometric motif of this quilted sujni was an unusual find.
An embroidered bag from Chitra’s collection raises questions about its origins.
Peel back the layers of recycled sarees to uncover the history of ledra quilts in India. Find out how the handstitched motifs rejuvenate reused textiles into striking works of needle art.
This embroidered dowry bag bridges the gap between the traditional and modern. The shape meets the demands of current trends, but the stitching pays tribute to the needlework of vintage dowry bags.
The ancient game of Caupar is mentioned in several historical records, and several old paintings and embroidery pieces show kings and subjects playing it with gusto. It is still played with gusto across India.
For centuries, the need to create warm bedding together with an endless supply of old clothing has resulted in the production of elaborately embroidered sujnis in Bihar.
For weddings, it is rare for all dowry items to be made brand new. In this case, an upcycled square piece of textile was embroidered and then folded in half and stitched along the sides to form a small bag.