Indian Artisanal Communities
“Every Stitch Was Once Reserved for Queens.”
Indian craftsmanship dates back thousands of years
RABARI
COMMUNITY
The Rabari are a nomadic artisan community from Gujarat and Rajasthan, known for their bold, symbolic embroidery where every stitch and mirror carries meaning. Traditionally made for weddings, rituals, and royal offerings, their work reflects centuries of storytelling and craftsmanship. With only a few families still practicing the art in its pure form, each Rabari piece today represents a rare and fading legacy — preserved one stitch at a time.
Only a few still remember how to do this.
At The Gandhi Cloth Co., we work with these last masters — not just to preserve their legacy, but to place it where it belongs: on the global stage of luxury.
BANJARA COMMUNITY
The Banjara are a nomadic tribe known for their vibrant textiles, mirror work, and rich applique traditions. Once traders who journeyed across India with caravans, their embroidery reflects a life of movement, color, and resilience. Each piece is densely decorated, often repurposing old fabrics, coins, and mirrors — turning everyday materials into wearable history. As these traditions fade, Banjara craft stands as a bold testament to their untamed spirit and ancestral creativity.
TODA TRIBE COMMUNITY
The Toda tribe of the Nilgiri Hills in South India is renowned for their distinctive red-and-black embroidered shawls, known as pootkuzhi. Traditionally crafted by Toda women, these geometric patterns are more than ornament—they represent sacred symbols tied to nature, buffalo worship, and tribal myths. Each shawl is hand-embroidered on unbleached cotton, using a technique passed down through generations. As the tribe and their traditions face modern pressures, Toda embroidery remains a quiet, powerful expression of cultural identity and timeless craft.
KHASI COMMUNITY
The Khasi community of Meghalaya is renowned for their intricate bamboo and cane weaving, a craft deeply tied to their way of life and natural surroundings. Using locally sourced materials, Khasi artisans—especially women—create beautifully structured bags that blend utility with tradition. Each piece reflects generations of skill, sustainability, and cultural expression, turning humble bamboo into elegant, modern heirlooms. Today, these bags stand as a symbol of Khasi identity and their quiet craftsmanship rooted in the hills of Northeast India.
ANSARI COMMUNITY
The Ansaris are renowned for their mastery in weaving zari (gold and silver threads) into luxurious patterns, often inspired by Mughal motifs, flora, and geometry. Their work historically adorned royal courts and wedding trousseaus and today lives on in both saris and modern accessories like brocade bags. Each piece carries the richness of Banaras’ textile heritage and the skill of a community that has preserved its artistry through generations of devotion to the loom.