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SIDR CRAFT

SIDRcraft is an artisan enterprise established in 1992 by brothers Abduljabbar Khatri and Abdullah Khatri.  Bandhani is a family tradition, and although the previous generation abandoned the craft, the brothers have taken it up again. Bandhani, a form of tying and dyeing cloth  is a centuries-old tradition practiced by the Khatri community in Kutch, Gujarat and  produces exquisite pattern, design and texture on fabric. Today the brothers produce high-quality bandhani that promotes economic independence for women village artisans and cater to an international clientele. The pair have received the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for 2006 and 2007, been invited to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market many times, and been finalists for the International Folk Art Alliance Living Traditions Award.

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Product and Design

 

The ancient process of Bandhani is derived from the Hindi word "baandhna" meaning “to tie”. The handcrafted scarves are composed of highly intricate patterns that are tied into the fabric, and then dyed using a complex dying process. Bandhani scarves take weeks, often months to complete. The designs of each scarf are composed of tiny dots. Early in the process, each dot is a very tiny portion of cloth tied by a woman artisan. The tying process is intricate, and the dying requires absolute mastery of the skill. It is a long and difficult procedure, but the results are stunning. No two scarves, stoles and shawls are exactly the same and each is part of a limited edition.  The brothers have also mastered the skill of shibori (mostly the "clamp-resist" dyeing technique. They now create beautiful scarves using the clamp-dye method

Impact

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  • SIDRcraft employs approximately 200 craftswomen from 8 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, India

  • Income from SIDRcraft is extremely valuable for families, and in some cases, is their sole means of support

  • Preserving and evolving the traditional bandhani heritage of western India by sharing it with an international market

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