Creations made from rare Indian cotton

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IN the rush and buzz of a Tokyo day, Alison Welsh’s designs provide a rare chance for reflection. 

Work by textile artist Alison, Hollings’ Head of Apparel, are the focus of a new exhibition, titled Hand Made.

The garments featured use the traditional Indian fabric, kala cotton, an organic and sustainable material indigenous to northern India.

They will be on display at Bunka Gakuen University in Tokyo until November 26.

Sustainable fabric

Welsh worked closely with master weaver Shamji Vishram Vankar, from the Gujarat town of Bhujodi, to develop a range of organically dyed fabric designs exclusively for the project.

The garments exhibit traditional hand embroidery and embellishment, carried out by the women of the Rabari community in Bhujodi.

The collection was created to highlight the positive points of using such a sustainable fabric.

Slow-growing Kala cotton is facing extinction, as the crop is being increasingly abandoned by farmers in response to increasing pressures from the international market.

Positive impact

Hand Made has been realised in conjunction with Indian crafts support agency Khamir. Working with the organisation and local growers, weavers, tailors and embroiderers, Alison has created beautiful garments from fabrics made of this exceptional breed of cotton.

She was invited to exhibit in Tokyo after academics from the Bunka Gakuen University saw her work in India and were impressed.

The research hopes to deliver positive social and economic impact to the rural artisans of Kachcch, through the creation of new and sustainable products, and the promotion of Kala Cotton to the international design community.