Kutch’s intricate Meghwal embroidery documented, new products developed

VADODARA: It is a craft that has travelled with them as they migrated from Pakistan’s Sindh province to Rajasthan and then Gujarat after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. But there is little awareness regarding the intricate embroidery practised by the Meghwal community in Kutch.
Unlike the Kutchi embroidery, Meghwal embroidery has not received due recognition. But now some researchers of M S University have made an effort to revive the the traditional embroidery.They have documented it and developed new products too.
MSc student Dolly Agrawal carried out the research project on the traditional embroidery under the guidance of professor Madhu Sharan, head of Department of Clothing and Textile, of MSU’s Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, and Mitali Shah, assistant professor at MSU’s Institute of Fashion Technology. She carried out the research to study the traditional embroidery and suggest steps for its revival and sustenance.
“Meghwal community originally from Rajasthan has migrated to Kutch. It has its own form of embroidery. Unfortunately, this embroidery has never been in the main segment of popularity,” said Sharan.
According to Sharan, Members of the Meghwal community belong to the lowest strata of society. Earlier, they were considered untouchable, not allowed to enter villages. So, most of them settled on the outskirts of villages or cities.
“The origin of Meghwal embroidery too is connected to this. Since, the women of the community were not connected with members of other communities, they developed their own embroidery style. The men from the community were involved in leather tanning. It was due to combination of these two occupations that Meghwal embroidery, which has its origin as a domestic art, is now available in market as surface ornamentation on leather goods like purses, shoes among others,” said Sharan.
Through the project, the researchers helped Meghwal community members prepare a new range of products like embroidered waistcoats. “They had never thought that waistcoats with embroidery can be designed and developed to get a better market for their products,” said Shah.
Shah says Meghwal embroidery is different from Kutchi embroidery with respect to its stitches, motif and design development and products. The Meghwal embroidery has lot of geometry and floral motifs. Also, the embroidery is such that it does not leave any space. One will not be able to see base of the fabric when the embroidery is stitched on it.
Interestingly, the community members also don’t trace anything on the fabric. “All the designs of the embroidery are part of their imagination and applied instantly on the fabric making it a unique feature,” she said.