Right under the hard shell of Pakistan’s socio-economic state is a wonderful world of craft that manages to emerge as a ray of light every now and then. It’s where a snake charmer’s colourful satchel is deconstructed and repurposed as a featuring rilli and kantha detailing. Or where taarkashi, done by young girls working in Punjab’s paddy fields, is plucked onto an intricately hand-embroidered tunic.
The shrines of Bhit Shah are known for their Sufism but the cauldrons bubbling away with ajrakh dyes at their feet have other stories to tell. They are narrated on hand-printed , warding off bad luck with their hues and sacred geometrical patterns. Working with small communities of nationwide, these designers behind some popular Pakistani brands are reviving ancient crafts that have been passed down for centuries but are now threatened by the insatiable appetite for fast fashion.
A small community of passes an interesting tradition from one generation to another. Upon the birth of a male child, he is gifted a snake as a symbol of prosperity. And that coiled cobra is wrapped in a (quilt) embroidered in rilli and kantha work that the women stitch by hand.
It’s a craft that is as endangered as this vibrant community. Andleeb Rana, a former and editor, went in search of these nomadic jogi tribes and began sourcing these patchwork dulais to upcyle them as patchwork kimono jackets and shrugs. Her artisanal brand was born deep in the deserts of Tharparkar; in the hopes of crea.