The tapestries and wall hangings made by the Rabari tribe living in the Kutch region of western Gujarat. These Asian decorating tapestries are made of a mix of different kinds of waste rugs, in different colors, which are at once vibrant and provocative. This tribal art is a complex as well creative combination of patchwork, applique, mirror and thread embroidery.Embroidery is a living and evolving expression of the craft and textile traditions of the Rabaris, a nomadic tribe in the Kutch in Gujarat. Rabari women have sincerely embroidered textiles as an expression of creativity, aesthetics and identity as far back as the tribe's collective memory goes. Every afternoon all Rabari women routinely embroider wall hangings, trousseaus, everyday apparel, dowry bags, etc., as part of their day to day activity. Traditional Rabari embroidery, done mostly on cotton, follows its own logic of design, colors and motifs. Using the basic embroidery colors of red, black, green, yellow, white and orange, Rabaris have a repertoire of stitches like herringbone, square chain, double button hole, pattern darning and running stitch. Mirrors, tassels, beads, sequins as well as quilting, tie and dye and appliqué are part of the vibrant embroidery traditions. Wall hangings, door hangings and a variety of apparel are all embroidered with motifs and in the stitches mentioned, though within the Rabari concept and format. |
