Recycling, upcycling & recreating new garments from the old is the most sustainable way of saving our Earth from further destruction.
Khesh is one such material, made from pure old cotton sarees and new fabrics. A brand new product is a result which is “Khesh“, an eco-friendly product. The process is simply fascinating.
Khesh cotton weaving technique
The Khesh fabric is done through “wrap” and “weft” technique.
- Wrap technique – the technique of using new yarn.
- Weft – the technique of tearing strips of old sarees length-wise.
Basically long strips of cloth, torn from old sarees, that are interwoven with a brand new thread of any color during the saree or any other apparel weaving process. This technique creates gorgeous 3D-looking stripes within the fabric. By weaving loom, the rural artisans create eclectic and gorgeous textured
- Khesh cotton sarees
- Khesh cotton bags
- Khesh cotton women kurtis
- Khesh cotton men kurtas
- Khesh cotton bed covers
- Kesh cotton table runners
- Khesh cotton coasters
Sustainable Sourcing
This Khesh weaving tradition is carried out actively in the Birbhum district. Various small shops, dealers, meals, and haats are there to sell Khesh items. The huge number of old sarees in bulk are brought to the weavers continuously so that the work always continues. Most of the time the weavers stay linked with suppliers who gather and collect different varieties of old sarees from village to village and door to door. The process is extremely tiring, it needs lots of dedication and hard work.
To construct a single bedcover, six old sarees are needed and to construct a double bed cover, ten old sarees are used. The color gradation and the hues you see in the 3D stripes are completely a matter of chance, because the weavers mix and match the colored saree stripes to to weave a new fabric.
Khesh fabrics are designed in various ways as well. Beautiful Kantha stitch is being done to give the fabric an exclusive look, the Kesh fabrics are even fabric painted with beautiful designs and motifs to give it a gorgeous look.
Sonajuri Arts Towards An Eco-friendly And Sustainable Initiative
Sonajuri Arts is on the path of taking the measure to preserve and protect the Khesh weaving technique, by not only reducing the carbon footprint but also by encouraging more local artisans and teaching them about the technique, so that it never gets extinct. We decided that it is high time that traditional art forms should be reserved and awareness about them should be spread in urban spaces.
We believe that traditional art has to evolve to be able to sustain in the market and spread the knowledge, importance & history. And, Sonajuri Arts have been doing a lot to spread awareness about the art form, not only across the country but also internationally. We are trying to provide the weavers a platform to promote their arts outside the state making it easy and accessible for people to learn.
Sonajuri Arts’ main motive is to bring up the traditional art and culture of ancient India. It also aims to bring up the artists and their families to get a better lifestyle which they deserve. Due to industrialization, all these artists are finding alternate ways of income, to avoid this Sonajuri art is providing them with a platform where they can, not only show their art but also represent them in front of a larger audience. To know more about Pattachitra products and the art form, visit our website: https://sonajuriarts.com/
