Tilonia - Artisans of India

Women of Barmer

The Social Work Research Centre of Dhanau, a small village in the Barmer district of western Rajasthan, works with 300 women artisans who earn income from their needlework.


Barmer Applique

Barmer applique was traditionally sewn on bedspreads of black or brown bases. Motifs were almost entirely inspired by nature: trees, leaves, flowers and animals. Women in six villages in Rajasthan produce these appliques. An elaborate bedspread may take nearly a month to complete.

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Gifts + Decor

The Tilonia Artisan collection offers a range of handcrafted items to delight your family and friends. From decorative bird mobiles, to handmade paperbooks, to scarves and other accessories -- these handcrafted items are a wonderful change from the mass-produced gift items you see at every shopping mall!

The work of the barefoot professionals trained by the Barefoot College has been documented for the past 35 years by the Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia, creating an extraordinary pictoral history of the Barefoot College. You will find a selection of the images from the collection of the Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia on flickr.

You may also enjoy the images of the Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia through the BBC. A collection of barefoot photographs was exhibited in 2005 at the Brunei Gallery of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

The Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia book and Barefoot College films are available for purchase.