Under The Embroidered Sky : Embroidered Of The Ahirs Of Kutch

Contents: Foreword. Introduction. I. Narrative: Parmaben speaks: 1. Characteristics of Ahir Embroidery. II. Narrative: Sariyaben explains: 2. The language of Ahir embroidery: stitches and mirrors. 3. The language of Ahir embroidery: Motifs and borders. 4. Embroidery of different Ahir Subgroups: some distinctive features. 5. Embroidery in clothing, accessories and home decorations. III. Narrative: Chanaben intervenes: 6. Change and continuity in Ahir embroidery: the The Shrujan story. IV. Narrative: three designers share their stories. V. Narrative: Parmaben has the last word. Glossary. Further reading. Index.

Kutch district in Western India is renowned for its crafts, particularly the beautiful and ancient craft of hand embroidery. There are at least sixteen district styles of traditional Kutchi embroidery, practiced by nine different communities. Each style has its own lexicon of stitches and motifs, and is intrinsically connected to the environment, livelihood, cultural patterns and natural world specific to the community it belongs to.

The Ahir community is one of these traditional embroidery communities, its dense and bold style characterized by a large collection of stitches and motifs, vibrant colours and the abundant use of mirrors. The combination of these elements creates an embroidered universe full of flowers, birds and animals a reflection of the community’s predominantly agricultural lifestyle.

Under The Embroidered Sky is a series of books and films on the embroideries of Kutch. This volume, the first in the series provides an intimate and insightful glimpse into the world of Ahir embroidery and the women who practise it. It explores the place of embroidery in Ahir life; identifies the characteristic features of this embroidery style; decodes the languages of stitches and mirrors, motifs and borders; and describes the ways in which embroidery is used in clothing, accessories and home decorations. The second half of the book looks at the efforts of shrujan in reviving and rejuvenating the traditional embroideries of kutch, and using the craft women\'s embroidery skill to secure a sustainable livelihood for them.