More than Textiles – Naturally Dyed Fabrics in the Indian Himalayas
The soil of the Kumaon Himalayas is rich, though people are poor and don’t know how to valuate the treasures of their land anymore. This must have been Rashmi Bharti‘s observation when she co-founded the Indian NGO Avani in 1997 and began to revive the traditional textile craft. The results after almost fifteen years of hard work are truly sustainable, not only regarding the environment but also the society and the financial situation of the rural villages. The organization’s main goal is to empower the community members to build up livelihoods by running their own sustainable textile centers under the label and with the aid of Avani. This way there is no longer an exigency to migrate to the cities; people regain financial independence and improve their quality of life. Many textile manufacturing woman are delayed in marriage and therefor have a chance to stand on their own feet.
Aside the organization also equips households with solar panels and improves agricultural activities.
Picture source: www.avani-kumaon.org
Avani fabrics are made from merino wool or wild silk. The organization cultivates its own muga silk. Since the silkworms finish their life cycle and the cocoons get injured while hatching, the threads don’t remain in one piece and therefor have to be spun. For this reason the fabrics have a slightly rough appearance, but turn out to be very soft in contact with skin. The surface-shimmer is of incomparable beauty.
Avani muga silk textiles produce zero waste and provide, along with Avani’s agriculture and technology projects, 20’000 people in 101 villages with work and education. The yarns are hand spun and dyed with plant material, then woven on hand driven looms.
Picture source: www.avani-kumaon.org
We met Rashmi Bharti and listened to her speech about the organization at the symposium 3000 Years of Colour in Vienna. More information about her and the project’s philosophy can be found in these videos:
(Source: www.avani-kumaon.org)
Follow Avani on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates. The official news blog can be found here.
Picture source: www.avani-kumaon.org
