Latest news with #craftswomen
Forbes
21 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
The Hands That Uphold Pakistan's Craft Traditions
According to HomeNet South Asia, a well-known home-based worker network, 67 million home-based workers originate from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. While this staggering figure stands as an estimate, there are most likely millions of undocumented home-based workers who are part of the world's informal economy. A craftswoman embroiders flower motifs at the Ra'ana Liaquat Craftsmen's Colony (RLCC). RLCC Put simply, home-based workers – mainly women – work within the four walls of their home, supplementing the family income through their specific skill-set. In Pakistan particularly, and South Asia as a whole, scores of craftswomen are engaged in age-old hand embroidery and needlework techniques which have kept a number of ancient crafts alive. A craftswoman gently cuts fabric during the RLCC's quilt-training workshop. RLCC These ancestral skills have been passed down from generation to generation through anecdotal experience and memory alone. However, given today's world of fast fashion and now, the spread of AI, local craft traditions in South Asia are at risk of being lost. Handmade camel toy crafts made with upcycled materials by craftswomen at the RLCC. RLCC Yet, there are platforms and organizations within the country, which not only work towards safeguarding the futures of craftswomen on home turf, but who are also ensuring the survival of indigenous crafts. One such platform is the Ra'ana Liaquat Craftsmen's Colony (RLCC) in Karachi's Shah Faisal Town. Inspired by global feminist movements, the late Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, the First Lady of Pakistan (from 1947 till 1951) and a women's rights activist, dreamt of establishing a non-profit to empower women through vocational training, while providing schooling for their children and healthcare for their families. Thus, the RLCC was born 1947. Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan seated with Edith S. Sampson at a dinner hosted by the Foreign Policy Association, in Waldorf Astoria, New York City, in May 1950. Getty Images Currently training approximately 1,000 women in needlework, basic English and more, and supporting over 250 home-based craftswomen in Karachi, the RLCC's annual internship program also invites students (from textile and fashion institutions) to train its artisans. Erum Mushtaq, an artisan who has been a part of the non-profit for over a decade and currently oversees a team of RLCC craftswomen. RLCC At the helm of the RLCC is the young and inspiring Somayeh Bardai, who carries forward Khan's vision in both letter and spirit, and one might add, truly expands on it. 'Traditional handmade craft techniques are woven into the fabric of my childhood,' Bardai explains. 'My early childhood memories are of my grandmother teaching women from our neighbourhood, around the dining table, to sew and embroider as a way to uplift and empower them. For fifty years she ran her classes in Karachi under the name of Bombay Needle Home.' Somayeh Bardai, the CEO of the RLCC in Shah Faisal Town, Karachi. Nadir Toosy In 1999, during her final year of high school in Tehran, Bardai reveals that she decided to visit Quetta, Balochistan, to explore and investigate its craft and culture for her school's art project. 'This was the first time I visited a rural community and the adversity and disparity I witnessed was overwhelming. As the artisans began to take out samples of their work and family heirlooms made by their elders, colorful against the bland mud walls of their dimly-lit homes, my eyes lit up in awe of their superb craftsmanship. It was fascinating to see the beauty that came out of a place that had witnessed so much suffering, yet the craft culture of Balochistan has endured.' With a staunch commitment to sustainability, materials at the RLCC are either naturally sourced or upcycled. Nadir Toosy Having majored in photography during her undergraduate program in Dubai and New York, including a Masters at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi, India, Bardai returned to Karachi in 2012, brimming with dreams and ideas. During her degree in India, Bardai would frequent the plethora of craft bazaars and festivals. While walking through the markets and analyzing numerous handmade pieces, from objects to textiles, she realized the untapped potential within Pakistan's own crafts sector. An RLCC team member with the non-profit's handmade crafts at a local festival in Karachi, Pakistan. RLCC 'Brands like Fab India and Good Earth, recognized internationally, were innovating to support local crafts and artisans from rural communities and building cottage industries. I began to question why, despite being so similar, Pakistani crafts were not at this level yet. Over the course of [my studies in India] I was also made aware of the negative impacts of the textile and fashion industry and I came out thinking that the world doesn't need one more fashion designer, so I decided to come back home to find a way to enhance the local craft communities.' For Bardai, having been at the RLCC for seven years till date, and working with over 700 craftswomen, her outlook about crafts has shifted drastically. Crafts aren't just a pretty little objects, she says, but stand as a living, breathing ecosystem which encompasses the identity of a community. A kantha craft cushion made by women artisans at the RLCC. RLCC With a staunch commitment to sustainability, materials at the RLCC are either naturally sourced or upcycled. Garment factories donate their unused, discarded fabric too, which the non-profit happily accepts. With material in hand, the artisans are then guided in terms of selecting which pieces will be market relevant, while also being provided support during the design and production process. Once the pieces are ready for the market, the RLCC supports its artisans in marketing their products at home and abroad through brand collaborations, customized orders and the RLCC's own delightful label, Panchi Crafts. Delightful crochet toys for children. RLCC 'My work over the years has deepened my conviction that craft must be preserved, innovated, and dignified through fair livelihoods and platforms for artisans,' the young CEO says. Preserving age-old crafts such as ralli, mirror work and taarkashi, including crochet and ribbon work, some of the platform's artisans are even skilled at basketry which they weave using date palm leaves. Slow crafts, made with homegrown materials and by human hands, carry the maker's essence, and hence, are far more meaningful in a modern world hyper-focused on fast fashion. Hand-embroidered tableware. RLCC 'I've always emphasized the importance of conscious consumption,' states Bardai. 'When creating handcrafted goods using traditional techniques, it's essential to consider both the materials used and fair compensation for the artisans. We determine this based on fair trade principles at the time of sampling and the income the craft is expected to generate. Conscious consumption decisions to purchase our tablecloths, linens, and napkins, rather than opting for mass-produced, lower-cost alternatives from big-box stores, allows our customers to directly support women's livelihoods.' Celebrating 70 years of the non-profit: 110 staff members from the RLCC pose for a group photo in August, 2024. RLCC Speaking about some heartwarming stories of craftswomen who've been with the RLCC for a number of years, Bardai mentions Erum Mushtaq, who has been a part of the non-profit for over a decade and currently oversees a team of artisans that work on large craft orders. Then there's Haseena Ali, who went on to spearhead her very own non-profit in Balochistan to emancipate the women in her village. A quilt made of upcycled textiles at the RLCC. RLCC 'There are some artisans who have worked with us for over 30 years, dedicating their lives to the growth of this organization,' Bardai proudly states. The hands that make homegrown crafts. RLCC 'What started out as a deep-seated love for fabrics and crafts, thanks to my grandmother, has brought me to this very understanding our craftspeople are not only culture-bearers in their own right, but are also important allies in the world's creative economy.'
Arab News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi heritage on display at Hail festival
RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail is captivating visitors with a rich array of handicrafts that blend artistry and historical authenticity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The 30-day festival offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing the dedication behind creating everyday necessities and celebrating the success of local craftswomen. More than 40 activities are on display, allowing visitors to explore traditional skills such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and distinctive Najdi and Hail door making. Other highlights include traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making, the SPA added. Visitors can also savor a variety of traditional folk foods. At the heart of the festival, an artistic theater hosts performances, including the Hail Samri and Saudi Ardah. The festival supports local craftspeople by providing a platform to showcase their work directly to the public. It also celebrates the Kingdom's national identity and cultural heritage, in line with the Year of Handicrafts 2025.
