Kaia
MR23104
Panelled patchwork of cotton woven in Arunachal Pradesh with an asymmetrical patchwork blouse
Spoken for
Gentleness of the colours chosen for the sari are set in contrast with the robust use of colours in the asymmetrical patchwork crafted especially for this sari. The blouse fabric has a versatility suited for other textiles beyond Kaia.
In 2013, we brought about 500 kgs of cotton yarn to Arunachal Pradesh and took it as a drive to sensitise weavers towards using cotton over synthetic yarns for their indigenous weaves. Amla has championed the work we carried out with Tai Khampti weavers for more years than I could ever imagine. She began engaging untrained weavers, single mothers, and older women to engage in weaving plain, checks and striped fabrics. Such textiles are easily available at a very low cost in mainland India. Thereby, economically it was not a great decision. But at a deeper level, it brought wealth to a lot of homes in her neighbourhood. Rather than buying plain handloom fabrics from mainland, we began creating livelihood opportunities by weaving less intricate weaves as a medium of training new weavers and convenient income for trained ones. Some weavers took their payments part in money and part in yarn. They expressed wish to wear cotton themselves. This was the high point of this cotton drive with Tai Khampti tribe.
Kaia is a one of a kind textile designed to highlight a unique coming together of various techniques and creativity of handcraft. This design will not be recreated. Kaia comes with a blouse fabric designed to encourage mora fireflies to bring their own authentic spirit to the fabrication of blouse fit, usage of borders and edgings.
Blouse worn by Swati is not included.
“Many hands make work light; Many ideas open the way”
- Hmong proverb
In 2013, we brought about 500 kgs of cotton yarn to Arunachal Pradesh and took it as a drive to sensitise weavers towards using cotton over synthetic yarns for their indigenous weaves. Amla has championed the work we carried out with Tai Khampti weavers for more years than I could ever imagine. She began engaging untrained weavers, single mothers, and older women to engage in weaving plain, checks and striped fabrics. Such textiles are easily available at a very low cost in mainland India. Thereby, economically it was not a great decision. But at a deeper level, it brought wealth to a lot of homes in her neighbourhood. Rather than buying plain handloom fabrics from mainland, we began creating livelihood opportunities by weaving less intricate weaves as a medium of training new weavers and convenient income for trained ones. Some weavers took their payments part in money and part in yarn. They expressed wish to wear cotton themselves. This was the high point of this cotton drive with Tai Khampti tribe.
Kaia is a one of a kind textile designed to highlight a unique coming together of various techniques and creativity of handcraft. This design will not be recreated. Kaia comes with a blouse fabric designed to encourage mora fireflies to bring their own authentic spirit to the fabrication of blouse fit, usage of borders and edgings.
Blouse worn by Swati is not included.
“Many hands make work light; Many ideas open the way”
- Hmong proverb
Buyer Empowerments
Intrinsic
Value
Value
Involves traditional handloom weaving and skilled stitching skills to bind patchwork of varied density.
Creative
Aspect
Aspect
One of a kind wearable textile that highlights an earthy combination of colours brought together in cotton fabric woven by weavers of Arunachal Pradesh
Heft-Feel
Light
Weather/
Mood
Pleasant for summers!
Longevity
Not fragile
Care
Dry Clean only; Needs “Airing” in shadow, not direct sun. Do not wring.
State
Sari is ready to wear. All saris come with blouse fabric(s). No fall/beading required. The blouse used in photoshoot is for representation only and may not be the same blouse available with the sari. The blouse fabric given with the sari will be more in alignment with the aesthetics intended.
Soul
Mill spun mercerised cotton yarn with Azo-free dyeing for plain cotton fabrics.
Drape
Casual, earthy, modern
Concerns
Addressed
Addressed
Weaves made by artisan at home in available time-supporting farming lifestyle.
Training of untrained weavers.
Livelihood opportunity for amateur weavers, single mothers, older women who cannot farm.
Design handling leadership training, inventory keeping, costing and parcel handling training with Amla.
Collaborative design and decision making.
Awareness drive to choose natural yarns over easily available synthetic yarns.
Training of untrained weavers.
Livelihood opportunity for amateur weavers, single mothers, older women who cannot farm.
Design handling leadership training, inventory keeping, costing and parcel handling training with Amla.
Collaborative design and decision making.
Awareness drive to choose natural yarns over easily available synthetic yarns.
Cotton yarn from Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Weaving of plain fabrics done with supervision of Nang Amlavati, Arunachal Pradesh.
Stitched by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
Beadwork by Param, Bhatinda, Punjab.
Weaving of plain fabrics done with supervision of Nang Amlavati, Arunachal Pradesh.
Stitched by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
Beadwork by Param, Bhatinda, Punjab.
Disclaimer:
Imperfections in the weaves reflect handmade
Irregularity in the dyes reflect natural process
Innocent spots in the textiles reflect being homemade
A work of nature cannot be sterile and error-free
A choice to still buy what we make is a step
Towards supporting original culture
Of people
Of nature
Of craft
A celebration of humanness.
Imperfections in the weaves reflect handmade
Irregularity in the dyes reflect natural process
Innocent spots in the textiles reflect being homemade
A work of nature cannot be sterile and error-free
A choice to still buy what we make is a step
Towards supporting original culture
Of people
Of nature
Of craft
A celebration of humanness.
Mora Collective 2025
designed by: MIDTOAN