Ahimsa

Fine Thebvo | Ahimsa Eri Silk | Indigenous coarse Thebvo

MORA PROTOTYPE

Make sufficient Feel enough.

Reverence to life Gentleness in approach.

Clarity of intention Universality in purpose.

Engage with more hands Support skills and solutions.

Practice fearlessness in sharing I am because we are.

Be earnest in empathy Innovate mindfully and in collaboration.

Make slow Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

With this intention in our heart, we engineered four different textiles that have come together to make this heirloom:

1) Ahimsa Eri Silk is woven together with the finest count of Thebvo handcrafted yarn. The resulting weave is a timeless self textured pattern.

2) Fine foraged, handspun Thebvo of Nagaland woven on throw shuttle loom of Assam.

3) Indigenous coarse Thebvo woven on back strap loom of Kuzhami people, Nagaland

4) Ahimsa Eri silk is hand spun using no Charkha. Then woven on traditional throw shuttle loom.

Ahimsa Eri silk is made with intentional non-injury and gentleness. Ahimsa Eri silk is ethically produced with reverence to life and fair benefit to rearers, spinners, weavers, dyers and facilitators.

Ahimsa Eri silk Project is thriving in a region about 60-70 kms away from Guwahati city, strategically placed between the borders of Assam and Meghalaya leading to a diverse population of ethnic communities. Panning over 14 villages in four zones, the project directly benefits 266 households with sustained livelihood. The region is not only suitable for a healthy growth cycle of Eri Silkworms but is also home to a skilled artisan community that still follow the traditional methods of textile-making, especially that of hand-spinning Eri Silk yarn and weaving this hand-spun yarn on traditional loom.

Ahimsa Eri silk is made with the intention that with every metre of fabric, about 1250 silkworms complete their natural life cycle. The cocoons left empty after the silkworms complete their metamorphosis from pupae to moth, are called Ahimsa Eri silk cocoons from which this textile is crafted.

Read more on our project ahimsaerisilk.com

Thebvo Project supports the indigenous craft of making textiles out of stinging nettle plant called Thebvo (in Khuzale dialect) by Khuzami people. Thebvo Project extends to Zuketsa region of Phek district, Nagaland.
Working with Thebvo is not merely an exploration of 􏰀ne handcrafted plant- based textile, but a deep dive into the ancient wisdom of this community. The project intends to interpret discussions and action that can uphold the Thebvo tradition in the changing times and create opportunities for a viable growth of this Craft into ethical Art.

Buyer Empowerments

Intrinsic
Value

Wearable textile made with ancient yarn making and weaving techniques of Nagaland and Assam, that are slowly being abandoned in modern context. Hope of rejuvenation that a textile that has lasted the test of thousand of years, can still enthral the makers and wearer’s senses.

Creative
Aspect

One of a kind wearable heirloom that collages indigenous techniques of two natural textiles of North East India bringing together the ethic of intentional non-injury. The natural, non-dyed colours of Thebvo and Ahimsa Eri silk speak gently of their slow gentle production. The combined weaving of Thebvo and Ahimsa Eri silk is first of its kind engineered textile bringing together the textile lineage of two communities into one weave.

Helf-Feel

Moderate

Weather/ Mood

Pleasant-not warm not cold. More fit for cool to cold days.

Longevity

Sturdy, long-lasting- “lifelong” in their words, making it a generational heirloom. Texture will grow with time.

Care

Okay to hand-wash. Do not wring. Do not machine wash. No dry clean needed. “Made to not be fragile”. Seasonal “Airing” in shadow, not direct sun.

State

Ready to wear

Soul

100% natural, organic, hand-made, from nature-back to nature. Something to grow old with and then pass it on to loved ones. The ruggedness will grow gentle with time.

Drape

Elegant, heirloom, Grounding

Concerns
Addressed

A result of two community concern projects by Mora in North East India.
Made in rural household. Weaves made by artisan at home in available time- supporting farming lifestyle. Direct connect with artisan.
Reverse pyramid model- Fair benefit to all makers and facilitators. No bargaining with artisans. Mutual decision-making.
No deadline/ pressure based work environment made with need-greed, human-nature balance.Made with intentional non-injury. Slow production- slow movement product.
Made less, made ethically.
Has gone through no chemical processing. Has gone through no machinery or mechanised processing units

Well-being Properties

Thermal insulation, Moisture absorption, UV protective, completely bio-degradable, Climate conscious

Thebvo is a product of Mora’s community concern Thebvo Project with Kuzhami community of Zuketsa, Nagaland. A livelihood revival project by mora since 2014.
Ahimsa Eri silk is a product of Mora’s community concern Ahimsa Eri Silk project, co-founded with Narmohan Das of Assam. A livelihood conscience project since 2016.
Ahimsa Eri silk and fine Thebvo weaving done by Eva Medhi, village Mataikhar, Assam.
Stitched by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
All necessary hand stitches by Madhu Mittal, Punjab.

Mora Collective 2021

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