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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Weaving

Weaving was traditionally a scheduled cast occupation restricted to a community called Balais or Meghwals. These communities used pit looms that produced a 24" width fabric. Handlooms were introduced as they produced fabric wider than than the pit looms, and thus were more efficient. With the change in looms, people from all communities became weavers as the caste associations of pitloom weaving were removed. There is also a group of Rajput women from the village of Kada who have broken tradition to learn how to weave. The weavers produce the fabric used for applique and blockprinting.