Hand Embroidery

Kala Raksha means the preservation of the art form. They are a group of more than 1000 women artisans who have expertise in different techniques of embroideries. Embroidery is the art form with minimal investment with the help of some basic necessary tools like a needle, thread, embroidery hoops.

The craftswomen of Kala Raksha organization are have been into this work for years. Where they use to decorate the fabric with beautiful designs crafted with thread and needles. The work includes the use of needles and threads on the fabric to deform or cut away to create holes that are then embellished with embroidery which is referred to as cutwork. The different categories of Kutch embroidery include Suf, Khaarek, and Paako, Rabari, Garasia Jat and Mutava.

Suf: The triangle based embroidery pattern in which the ‘Suf’ is counted on the warp and weft of the cloth have stitch work on the back. The designs are directly stitched on the cloth with immense detailed symmetrical patterns with tiny triangles.

Khaarek: The geometric style fills the entire fabric where the artisans work out on the structure of geometric patterns with an outline of black squares. The spaces are then filled with bands of satin stitching that are worked along warp and weft from the front.

Paako: The tight square chain and double buttonhole stitch embroidery named Paako is often finished with black slanted satin outlining. Primarily, the motifs of paako are floral which are arranged in symmetric patterns and sketched in the mud with needles beforehand.

Rabari: Rabari has mirrors in a variety of shapes and patterns in chain stitch. It is then decorated with a sequence of stitches in vibrant colors. Artisans also use decorative back stitching, called bakhiya, to decorate men’s kediya/ jackets and the seams of women’s blouses.

Jat: This word Jat is derived from Garasia Jats who were Islamic pastoralists who migrated to Kutch long time back. Garasia women make geometric patterns in counted work based on cross stitch studded fabric with minute mirrors.

Mutava: These are a small group of Muslim herders who have an exquisite style of stitching comprising minute renditions of local styles: jat, paako, and khareek work. their technique is fine and geometric.