Sewing the sweetness of memories together

Sewing the sweetness of memories together

Bandhej

Bandhej

While pacing up and down the length of my house
I often saw my grandma completely engrossed in her
work in the kitchen with so much of passion
that one could sense it. But what really fascinated
me and subtly got fixed in my mind was this piece
of cloth in which she used to put all the spices, tie
it tightly and make a potli in order to add to her
dishes.

While pacing up and down the length of my house
I often saw my grandma completely engrossed in her
work in the kitchen with so much of passion
that one could sense it. But what really fascinated
me and subtly got fixed in my mind was this piece
of cloth in which she used to put all the spices, tie
it tightly and make a potli in order to add to her
dishes.

Years later when I incorporated Bandhej as one of
the design techniques, I realised what actually
inspired me to do so.

Years later when I incorporated Bandhej as one of
the design techniques, I realised what actually
inspired me to do so.

Bandhej or tie and dye, is also a highly skilled process, work of passion and precision consists of
intricate patterns and designs full of colour and variety.

Bandhej or tie and dye, is also a highly skilled process, work of passion and precision consists of intricate patterns and designs full of colour and variety.

Bandhej and it’s warm shades reminds us of her warmth, compels us to dive into the sweet and
spicy memories of our childhood, it’s variety is as varied as her dishes and it’s vibrant designs fill
up our world with hues, exuberance and a tint of affection.

Bandhej and it’s warm shades reminds us of her warmth, compels us to dive into the sweet and spicy memories of our childhood, it’s variety is as varied as her dishes and it’s vibrant designs fill up our world with hues, exuberance and a tint of affection.

Faggoting

Faggoting

As a child during winters I accompanied my
grandmother to the veranda, to take in the
morning sunlight. She listened to all my stories
intently.This one time my favourite dress got
stuck in the nail of the chair on which I sat with
my grandmother and as a result got torn.
As a child it was extremely upsetting and I just
somehow wanted to undo the damage.
My grandmother immediately turned up with one
of her nuska to mend it.

As a child during winters I accompanied my
grandmother to the veranda, to take in the
morning sunlight. She listened to all my stories
intently.This one time my favourite dress got
stuck in the nail of the chair on which I sat with
my grandmother and as a result got torn.
As a child it was extremely upsetting and I just
somehow wanted to undo the damage.
My grandmother immediately turned up with one
of her nuska to mend it.

She took my dress and joined it with another fabric with help of a thread and made the dress
new as ever.

She took my dress and joined it with another fabric with help of a thread and made the dress new as ever.

This wonderful way of mending a garment while keeping it's beauty intact inspired me to use
faggoting or mending as one of the design techniques for it reminds us the past in all it's glory
but at the same time give us something new and fresh.

This wonderful way of mending a garment while keeping it's beauty intact inspired me to use faggoting or mending as one of the design techniques for it reminds us the past in all it's glory but at the same time give us something new and fresh.

Embroidery

Embroidery

In my grandmother’s room, inside her cupboard I
saw my aunt’s dresses with embroidery, sequins
and beads on them neatly stacked in one of the
racks. I wore them as a child and roamed around
the entire house. The shine and shimmer, glitter
and it's glimmer always attracted me, for it was
festive, graceful and elegant.

In my grandmother’s room, inside her cupboard I
saw my aunt’s dresses with embroidery, sequins
and beads on them neatly stacked in one of the
racks. I wore them as a child and roamed around
the entire house. The shine and shimmer, glitter
and it's glimmer always attracted me, for it was
festive, graceful and elegant.

Embroidery- a needle and thread work done by stretching the fabric within a wooden frame is so
detailed, unique and the amount of effort and passion goes into creating such fine art makes it
extraordinary and thus occupies a special place in my heart and I believe in those of others.

Embroidery- a needle and thread work done by stretching the fabric within a wooden frame is so detailed, unique and the amount of effort and passion goes into creating such fine art makes it extraordinary and thus occupies a special place in my heart and I believe in those of others.

When I think about embroidery and the reason why I included this as one of the design techniques
is because it reminds me of all of those happiness studded memories, the immense gratification
I experienced wearing them, for it’s shine glistened my eyes and it’s sequins formed a beads of
smile on my face.

When I think about embroidery and the reason why I included this as one of the design techniques
is because it reminds me of all of those happiness studded memories, the immense gratification
I experienced wearing them, for it’s shine glistened my eyes and it’s sequins formed a beads of
smile on my face.