Weaving work with passion

An earlier entrant into textile tours of India, Renu Tawadey, managing director of Timeless Tours, said it is her passion for the multifarious weaves, colours, texture and designs of Indian textiles that made her start the tours.

The textile tours project the culture and art found on handlooms in India. With almost every state in India having its own indigenous textile style and tradition, the textile tour takes one to the textile centres of the Northeast, South India, East India and Rjasthan, where a living museum comes to life in the clothes people wear. The tour comprises a tour of the region, a visit to the local weaver centre where the visitors are given an orientation on the origin, threads used, method of coloring each thread, how yarns are woven into handcrafted cloth.

“This is a most satisfying profession for me,” confessed Tawadey. “Associating directly with the weavers avoids middlemen concessions and the proceeds go directly to the artists of these creations. It is my little bit that I give back to the society that gives me so much.”

Rajasthan with its block printing, mirror work and tie and- dye work, remains the most popular destination.

Vibrant Rajasthan with its forts, palaces and spas has a fascinating range of dyed and block printing fabrics. The Chunari and Bandhej is the art of tying a small point on the cloth by threads and later dyed with natural colours. After drying when opened, there is a small circle in the white splashed around the fabric, known as tie and dye. This style is found in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bikaner. Embellishing fabrics with embroidery using thread-work, mirror work or gold brocade is also popular.

“The textile tours provide an interactive experience with the craftsmen for like- minded people with common interests,” added Tawadey.