The modern heritage textiles from Gujarat a talk by Imogen Catling

The modern heritage textiles from Gujarat

A talk by Imogen Catling

While many believe that Indian embroidery is disappearing, the rich embroidery traditions of the Rabari community in Kutch, shows how the heritage constantly evolves. Gujarat, is a long-standing cultural hub of textile craftsmanship, historically shaped by trade, migration, and socio- economic shifts, influencing the embroidery practices that persist today.
The Kutch earthquake of 2001 disrupted the craft traditions, but also spurred the promotion of embroidery through initiatives like the Shrujan Foundation and Living and Learning Design Centre. Responsible tourism, ethical fashion, and craft collectives have empowered artisans, particularly Rabari women, to retain their embroidery skills while earning fair wages.

Imogen Catling is a trained textile designer, and an OATG committee member, who works with the cultural enterprise United Artisans of Kutch, and fourth-generation weaver Rajan Vankar, celebrating traditional skills and bringing contemporary, wearable designs to new markets. Her research has featured in Selvedge magazine, and for many years she served as Assistant Editor for TEXT, the journal of The Textile Society, where she explored historical and contemporary textile practices.

Hybrid Event - in person at Rewley House & online via Zoom.

The Event is free for OATG members. Non-members are kindly asked to make a donation.