Bandhani Workshop

Image: Detail of Bandhani scarves from SIDR Craft. 

Join us on Saturday 27 March for a day-long virtual workshop about Bandhani dye technique. This workshop will be hosted by Abduljabbar Khatri from Kutch, Gujarat, who founded the design house SIDR Craft with his brother Abdullah in 1992. The brothers grew up watching their mother tying pieces of cloth for Bandhani - an ancient tie-dye art form known for its unique texture, patterns and finesse of dots achieved through the plucking and tying of tiny bindings into cloth with thread - and learnt the age-old art from her. Bandhani has a rich history in the Khatri community of Kachchh dating back to the 17th century and its intricacy and beauty ensured that the art form became a symbol of prestige and cultural identity, with local communities developing their own signature designs and colour schemes.

Image: A tied Bandhani scarf in progress.

Today, SIDR Craft aims to revive the lost Bandhani technique and create truly exquisite exemplars of the art form. The organisation includes an in-studio dyeing team, and over 300 women artisans who are encouraged to experiment with patterns, colours, and layouts to develop their own design aesthetic, while also providing them with means to earn an income.

Image: Tracing your design onto fabric or garments.

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the basic tie-dye skills of Bandhani craft, as well as a brief history of the art form and the Kutch community through examples of traditional Bandhani pieces. You will then be guided through the technique of creating a thread resist by pinching and tying knots in fabric with thread to create your own Bandhani scarf to your own design. Finally, participants will also learn to naturally dye their Bandhani piece using madder root and alum as a mordant. This workshop is suitable for experienced dyers and beginners alike.

For more information, the full list of materials, and to book your place, visit the workshop page. To explore other Selvedge workshop opportunities, visit our website.