The first English-language survey of the intricate embroidery and colorful dyes of Banjara textiles, among the most dazzling produced in India

"Published to accompany the exhibition The Fabric of India at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, from 3 October 2015 to 10 January 2016"--Title page verso.

Social life and customs of the Lambadi, nomadic tribe in Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra.

"[A] handsome digest of commercial, tribal, and folk textiles." —Fiberarts The production of textiles in India continues to flourish just as it has for many centuries. The interactions of indigenous tribes, invaders, traders, and explorers throughout history has built a culture legendary for its variety and color. From the Rann of Kutch to the Coromandel coast, handloom weavers, block printers, painters, dyers, and embroiderers are creating the most extraordinary textiles. This all-encompassing survey of textiles from every region of the Indian subcontinent runs the gamut of commercial, tribal, and folk textiles. The authors first place them in context by examining the cultural background: the history, the materials, and the techniques—weaving, printing, painting, and tie-dye. They then give a detailed region-by-region account of traditional textiles production, including chapters on Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. A dazzling array of images provides an unsurpassed visual representation of the textiles, while a detailed reference section with further reading, museums, and information on technical terms completes this essential guide.

An updated edition of an essential resource on the textile crafts of Sindh. The textile crafts of Sindh are amongst the oldest in South Asia. A kaleidoscope of color, mirrors, and embroidery, Sindhi textiles feature motifs of desert flowers, peacocks, scorpions, and sand dunes. The Flowering Desert explores the history, craftsmanship, styles, and stitches of textiles from Sindh in Pakistan, which, according to some scholars, was the crucible in which the textile traditions of Gujarat and Rajasthan were forged. It focuses on a spectacular private collection, parts of which have been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and the National Museums of Scotland. In addition to sumptuous photography of 120 remarkable objects--from tunics and turban sashes to dowry bags and animal adornments--the book includes essays on the history of the region, its ethnic groups, and their differing styles, as well as on the numerous stitches used in Sindhi embroidery. This is a revised second edition of the best-selling book which incorporates new and additional material as well as an expanded glossary, which will be of interest to both collectors and scholars.

This is a study of ajrak, the famous double-printed cotton cloth of Sindh, in Pakistan. It describes the 20 laborious stages of production and identifies the craftsmen who still practise this ancient tradition.

No region has a textile tradition more vivid and romantic than that of Central Asia. This book provides a spectacularly illustrated survey of these textiles, displaying in more than 200 color plates the opulent silks and velvets, the exquisite embroideries, the magnificent felts and woolen fabrics produced in the workshops of the oasis towns of the Silk Route.

This vibrant volume showcases a stunning collection of Indian textiles from the V&A, and explores in depth their history, production techniques, and designs. Textiles have a long and distinguished history on the Indian subcontinent, from the dazzling woven silks worn by royalty to the simple block-printed patterns worn by the masses. Drawing from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s world-class collection, this beautiful and informative reference features breathtaking and varied textile designs, techniques, and colors. Each piece is examined in detail through close-up shots of the fabric and patterns, and demonstrates different weaving techniques, allowing readers to see precisely how the textile was made. Divided into three chapters by pattern style—“Floral,” “Figurative,” and “Geometric”—each chapter comprises an introduction to the style’s history along with its intended use. This authoritative volume overflows with distinctive colors and patterns to inspire and inform the reader about the history of Indian textiles and patterns, their intended use, and the methods by which they were made.

A fresh take on adult coloring books, featuring the intricate patterns of Islamic design Building on the concept of a traditional coloring book, the Islamic Design Workbook opens up the world of intricate Islamic patterns, allowing designers and doodlers alike to learn about these works of art as they produce their own. With forty-eight Islamic geometric compositions from around the world to choose from, artists at all skill levels will relish the myriad opportunities to replicate these intricate patterns, or create their own. The workbook’s clever design invites the pattern-maker to consider a composition in the book, take a corresponding loose leaf from the back of the book, and figure out which sections of lines to trace to make the composition. Readers will have the unique satisfaction of making patterns appear where previously none were visible. Compositions—including a mix of more familiar geometric compositions and those that have scarcely been documented—are categorized by region and have various levels of complexity, making it possible for beginners to get started and artists or designers to develop their skills. Compositions are sourced from Samarkand, Delhi, Fes, Isfahan, and Cairo, among many others.