Probebühne

MR21137
Natural dyed Handspun
Handwoven Eri silk
Spoken for
Probebühne is German word for a rehearsal stage. I got this word as a note from a 77 year old German pantomime artist Gisella. She had been living a nomadic life since she was about 17, doing shows across the world expressing alphabets, astronomy, science and elements through miming. I was her 33 year old neighbour when I received this note slipped through my door, introducing me to this concept that is now my life aspiration.

She told me to look at life like I am on a rehearsal stage, preparing for the final show but never in the state of the final performance. Rehearsal stage is my chance to keep improvising, polishing, practising my act. She told me study, repeat, study, repeat, then came a little closer and bang in my ear said loud and clear, STUDY!

This shawl made with Eri Silk that is hand spun using no Charkha, and natural dyed using Indigo, Walnut skin and Lac, is made in remembrance of Probebühne. It is my preparation of constantly improvising my aesthetics, a stream of study I am dedicated to learning. 

I have loved making this shawl, as I have loved studying, as I have loved being on this constant rehearsal stage of life!

Now learning is becoming a compilation. Yet not a final show!


About Eri Silk and Natural dyeing

Eri Silk is a wild silk with a wooly fibrous filament hand spun into yarn, handwoven on traditional throw shuttle looms of Assam. It is elegant in drape, subtle in appearance and the texture of fabric does not carry obvious lustre that we typically associate with silk. Eri Silk being a protein fibre absorbs most natural dyes.

Natural Dyeing involves a series of high precision and complex steps to bring out the adequate conditions for textiles to absorb and retain dye. With non-injury as our core totem, we have given colour to this fabric using those natural sources that are procured locally, leaving least violent footprints on life and nature. The dye raw material is natural i.e. plant and resin based, instantly compostable, non-industrial and non- toxic.

Buyer Empowerments

Intrinsic
Value
Wearable textile made with traditional spinning, weaving and dyeing techniques, that are slowly being abandoned in modern context.
Creative
Aspect
One of a kind wearable heirloom with bold spectrum of patchwork in subtle mellow colours. What size the box should be? How wide the stripe should be? What width? What length? These are a matter of personal sense of aesthetics. I am tilting more and more towards the creative expression that I have expressed through this shawl.
Helf-Feel
Light to moderate
Weather/ Mood
Pleasant-not warm not cold.
Longevity
Long-lasting- “lifelong” in their words, making it a generational heirloom. Texture will grow with time. The shades of natural dye will go through natural alterations as anything made with nature should.
Care
Dry clean recommended. “Made to not be fragile”. Seasonal “Airing” in shadow, not direct sun. Do not wring.
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 shades will originally change with passage of time adding years to its organic life.
Concerns
Addressed
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
Drape
Elegant, up-lifting, hugging-body texture.
Well-being Properties
Thermal insulation, Moisture absorption, UV protective, completely bio-degradable, Climate conscious
Eri silk is made under supervision of Narmohan Das
with creative guidelines from Mora, Assam.
Stitching by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
Tassels by Param, Bathinda, 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.
Mora Collective 2025
designed by: MIDTOAN
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