BENGALURU: On Sunday afternoons, several Bengalureans come together to indulge in the the Japanese art of Shibori and give it a desi twist.
Shibori is the traditional Japanese art of resist dyeing using natural colour extracts, which results in the emergence of different patterns on the fabric. The tradition dates back to 349 AD.
Shweta Pai, a professional textile designer says, “The shibori art follows the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. The beauty of shibori is to experiment with colours and its effect on fabric .”
Various colour extracts can be obtained from natural sources such as onion peels, used coffee, tea powder and flowers such as marigold and hibiscus. These materials are soaked in boiling water from which the colour is extracted. The fabric (silk, cotton, hemp or similar fabrics) is dipped in the extracted colour and various techniques are applied to obtain naturally occurring and unexpected patterns. Various techniques such as binding, stitching, pole wrapping, clamping and folding are used to obtain patterns on the fabric.
The traditional textile art of Shibori dyeing is simple to learn and the materials required are easily available and inexpensive.
At a workshop held at the Go Native café in Jayanagar, members experimented with colour extract from the marigold flower on cotton fabric. Simran Monga, a graphic designer says, “Everyone here shares a common appreciation towards art of all forms. Such a workshop held on a weekend helps us get away from our daily routine.”
The workshop was conducted by Shweta Pai who said that people today are increasingly getting disenchanted from traditional art and nature and buying products manufactured in masses. Such a workshop which explores traditional art throws a question at our consumption habits.
Go Native is a café, retail store and a work space for handicrafts located in Jayanagar 5th block. The café focuses on traditional food, art and sustainability.