Radhana Rajeha
Velvets: The Product of Royal Life and Intricate Art
Wrapped around luxuriously and displayed to flaunt wealth, such was the epitome of popularity achieved by velvet in its glorious days of yesteryear. Velvet, technically defined as a warp cut-pile weave fabric has been a cloth of interest for…
in Overview
Radhana Raheja
An introduction to the history and techniques of velvet weaving in India, which includes articles, images from museum collections, a video on technique, and an interview with master weaver Shamim Ansari
in Module
Radhana Raheja
in Image Gallery
One of the few weavers from the Dawoodi Bohra community (Mubarakpur, Azamgarh), Abdullah was given an award by the Crafts Council Delhi in October 2017 for achieving excellence in his craft. In this interview he speaks about the history of his family and his own journey, and explains the technique …
in Interview
Photographs
Sunrise, Assi Ghat, Varanasi
Naksha or design process: Naseem Ahmad at work
Graphed pattern for making jala, Shahjahan Ansari's workshop, Varanasi
Digitally produced design, Shahjahan Ansari's workshop, Varanasi
Pattern drawn on mica sheet, Naseem Ahmad's workshop, Varanasi
Aziz ul…
in Video
Overviews of history, materials and techniques (grouped thematically and by date)
Web-page on Banarasi Saree on the official website of Varanasi district
Web-page on Varanasi Saris, National Centre for Textile Design, Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles,…
in Article
A characteristic feature of the traditional brocades of Varanasi is the use of gold or silver zari along with coloured silks to create various motifs. The zari used for weaving is of a special kind and has been produced in Varanasi for centuries.
in Interview
Agrawal, Yashodhara. 2003. Silk Brocades. New Delhi: Roli Books.
Ali, Abdullah Yusuf. 1900. A Monograph on Silk Fabrics Produced in the Northwestern Provinces and Oudh. Allahabad: N.W. Provinces and Oudh Government Press.
Basole, Amit. 2016. 'Spare Change for Spare Time? Homeworking Women in…
in Bibliography
In Varanasi, before the advent of jacquard looms, weaving was done on jala looms. A ‘jala’ is a kind of frame on which the design is first created using threads by nakshabands (pattern-makers). This is attached to the loom as a master harness. Some master weavers still use the jala loom in Varanasi.
in Interview