Soof – Story of Threads..

As part of their module Range Design III, students of Lifestyle Accessory Design Semester 6 went on a Craft Cluster Field Trip to Kutch. The student’s selected craft was Soof Embroidery. They visited Sumrasar Village to learn and understand Soof embroidery craft holistically. When they approached the cluster, the artisans- Anchal bijlani bhai and Sharda ben- gave them a quick introduction to the craft, explaining its history and what distinguishes it from other embroidery crafts. They even showed us the finished swatches and demonstrated two forms of needlework performed in their community. They also went to the Kalaraksha (NGO dedicated to the Art Preservation of Kutch) after the evening interaction.
The craftsmen were also visited by politician Rekha Sharma- She is the current Chairperson of the National Commission for Women in India.
Together with the craftsman, students had the chance to have a conversation with Rekha ma’am. It was quite nice of her to admire the artisan’s work and acknowledge its significance.  Students were all delighted to meet such a charming, graceful personality during their project.