The Salesman of Khadi Shoba NarayanAug 21, 2019September 22, 20190 I am a salesman of Swaraj. I am a devotee of khadi. It is my duty to induce people, by every honest means, to wear Read more
How do you energize an ancient weave? Shoba NarayanMar 19, 2019June 27, 20190 Are handlooms everyday wear or a luxury good? In this edition, we present two points of view. One that is epitomized by Bai Lou, in Read more
The hoary history of this most delicate of weaves Shoba NarayanMar 16, 2019February 1, 20210 The origin of the jamdani is lost in the mists of history and mystery. Here are some of the oft-repeated factoids. Jam-dani refers to flowers Read more
A few books and links Shoba NarayanMar 13, 2019October 23, 20190 Empire of Cotton by Sven Beckert. Our Story of Dhaka Muslin Cotton: a frayed history by Uzramma and Meena Menon Basic introduction to jamdani Muslin Read more
Why did the Jamdani weave thrive in Bengal? Shoba NarayanMar 13, 2019February 1, 20210 The history of the prized jamdani weave. An Introduction. A bird’s eye view of this fabric. Or should we say, fish’s eye view Why here Read more
The dance between Dacca and Bengal Shoba NarayanMar 13, 2019February 1, 20210 Ten things you didn't know about jamdani Read more
Hand versus machine: the power of the loom Shoba NarayanMar 13, 2019June 27, 20190 In the heart of jamdani country is a powerloom facility. About 30 looms clatter in a large space and produce the equivalent of what Read more
So how do you make a Jamdani saree? Shoba NarayanMar 12, 2019February 1, 20210 The different stages of weaving So here is what happens. Here are the stages of weaving. Cotton gets picked. The Daccai jamdani was made with Read more