Gujarat - National Institute of Fashion Technology

About Crafts
Gujarat’s Handicraft and Textile reflects its rich cultural heritage. Cotton, gold and silk are the
basic threads used. The variation in design used by different communities, castes and religions
of the state have further enriched the range. The widest spectrums of woven fabrics are found in
the resist technique, which range from patola to the bandhej, tie and dye the woven masharu and
the resist or reserved printing on cotton and silk. Gold brocades with Zari (Gold Thread) are the
specialty of Surat.
The rich tradition of Gujarat crafts is reflected in its wide range of textiles which extends from
intricate woven silk patola, finely tie-dyed bandhej sarees, and delicately embroidered blouses
from Banni & Kutch and woven durries with intricate patterns of the Namdas.
Textile & Craft
Study Tour
GUJARAT, INDIA
Organized by NIFT, Gandhinagar
“Celebrating the age old tradition
which brings the feeling of being
different”
This is a 4 credit customized
programme for international
students
“Taking the pride in carrying forth our Tradition”
Contact:
director.gandhinagar@nift.ac.in
head.idl@nift.ac.in
ui.idl@nift.ac.in
www.nift.ac.in
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY, INDIA
An Institute Of Design Management & Technology, A statutory body under The NIFT Act 2006
Bengaluru,Bhopal,Bhubaneswar,Chennai,Gandhinagar,Hyderabad,Jodhpur,Kangra,Kannur,Kolkata,
Mumbai,New delhi,Patna,Raebareli,Shillong
About Gujarat
Patola
In India, Gujarat is the major centre of the finest handiwork. The
Kutch region of Gujarat is very popular for their embroideries made
in various techniques, done by Hindu migrants from Sindh (Now in
Pakistan) & Muslims. Pastoral women groups are involved in
embroidery work. Bandhani tie-and-dye work is synonymous with
Gujarat. Gujarat is also known for double-ikat Patola in Patan and
Rogan painting.
Patolu (singular) and patola (plural) are the terms normally used in
Gujarat for art of silk weaving with design in double ikat i.e. for
fabrics where the wrap and weft threads are resist dyed before
setting on the loom for weaving and are then woven to form
intricate multi-colored designs. Patan based Salvi weavers
produces very intricate patterns worked with precision and clarity,
Considered the premier form of ikat , Double ikat requires most
skills, Patola is one of the finest of Double Ikat.
Itinerary 9 days (ex-Ahmedabad, International airport)
Bandhani
Ahmedabad, Duration 2 day & 2 night [Day 1 & 2: Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad] (15 KM from Ahmedabad airport)
Arrive at Gandhinagar which happens to be capital city of State of Gujarat, Briefing session at NIFT Gandhinagar,
Vist to Pethapur block making cluster, next morning visit to the Calico Museum of Textiles and Shreyas Folk Art
Museum exhibiting textiles and handicrafts. In the evening have traditional Guajarati dinner with entertainment show
at Vishala Village Restaurant. Night halt at Ahmedabad.
An ancient art of Tied and dyed fabrics, known as Bandhani or
bandhej, of Saurastra and Kutch are perhaps the finest produced
in India. The most intricate and refined patterns are to be found in
Jamnagar, Bhuj and Mandavi. Jamnagar bandhej is produce on
superfine cotton. The Mandavi and Bhuj work is on gajji, with an
orange red border known as panethar.
Gondal, Duration 2 day & 2 night [Day 3 & 4: Surendranagar, Rajkot, Gondal]
Continue to Gondal, known for its beadwork, silver jewelry and brassware. Visit to cottage industries of Gondal to
watch spinners, weavers and other artisans at work, and the Naulakha Palace with beautiful beadwork, brass
utensils, silverware and hand-painted wooden toys from the princely collection. Riverside Palace and Orchard Palace
in Gondal are decorated with pieces from the private textile collection of the Maharani of Gondal. See the textiles at the
Watson Museum and visit RashtriyaShala working to revive rare weaves and handicrafts, both at Rajkot. Night halt at
Gondal.
Prints
The resist dyed and printed cottons were excavated at Fostate,
which was the center of distribution of India printed cotton to the
West.The the patterns were based on the decorative styles of
West Indian paintings and designs. The combination of printing
and painting with mordant dyeing, which is found in many of the
textile fragments, is also typical techniques used at present in
Ahmedabad and printing center or Kutch. The Ajrakh resist
printing technique, of Anjar and Dhamdka in Kutch is well
known.The printed ajrakh cloth in blue, red, black and white
retains many of the patterns found at Fostate.
Bhuj, Duration 3 day & 3 night [Day 5-7: Bhuj, Ajrakpur, Sumrasar sheikh, Dhaneti, Hodka]
Drive to Bhuj calling in on the way at villages known for their ajrakh block printing, embroidery e.g. Ahir, Rabari etc.,
Spend the rest of the day at the markets, and Monuments.
Visit the villages of SodhaRajputs, Muslim pastoral groups like the Jaths and Muthwas and their sub-groups, Hindu
pastoral groups like the Rabaris, Meghwal, Harijans and other communities known for their exquisite embroidery.
Night halt at Bhuj.
Ahmedabad, Duration 2 day & 1 night [Day 8 & 9: Patan, Radhanpur, Ahmedabad]
Patan is known for Patola silk weaving, a rare double-ikat weaving technique. Patola is the one of the richest silk
textiles in the world, woven using the rare double-ikkat technique (a 5 yard sari takes 12-18 months to weave). In
morning visit to Modhera Sun temple. Night halt at Ahmedabad
Group Size - There is a provision for an accompanying faculty to travel without any additional charge for
every block of 10 students.
Embroidery
Gujarat has the most vibrant, fine and varied collection of
embroidery found in any part of India. The movement of pastoral
nomade and their settlement in different parts of Gujarat gave a
wide variation in embroidery style.Kutch in north Western Gujarat
and Saurastra in western Gujarat have the finest embroidery such
as Rabari, Mutwa, Mirror work etc.