The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Gandhinagar has spearheaded a dynamic initiative, merging student creativity with the rich heritage of Gujarat’s traditional crafts. Through collaborative projects, students worked directly with artisans, revitalizing three distinct art forms: Saudagari block printing, Sujani weaving, and Pithora painting. This undertaking underscores NIFT’s commitment to preserving India’s cultural legacy while fostering contemporary design innovation.
This year’s projects focused on crafts with significant cultural importance, including both Saudagari and Sujani, which recently received coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tags. NIFT’s leadership emphasized the institute’s dedication to safeguarding these crafts, empowering the artisan communities, and driving forward-thinking design. The projects were expertly guided by faculty members from the textile design department.
The Saudagari project saw students collaborating closely with a family of block printers, incorporating iconic Ahmedabad landmarks like the Astodia Darwaza, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, and Jama Masjid into their designs. Utilizing blocks, some dating back decades, the students breathed new life into this centuries-old art form. This collaboration involved exploring new applications for the craft and experimenting with diverse fabrics and designs to expand its market reach.
In a similar vein, students immersed themselves in the world of Sujani weaving, working alongside a family of weavers. Inspired by the work of textile artist Anni Albers, the students challenged the traditional symmetry of Sujani pockets, developing innovative “block-built” arrangements that pushed the boundaries of the craft.
The final project explored the vibrant and sacred art of Pithora painting, practised by the Rathwa artisans. Recognizing the cultural sensitivity surrounding this art form, the students prioritized respecting tradition. They provided the artisans with outlines of Panchtantra stories, allowing them creative freedom within their established artistic style. This approach resulted in a collection of new motifs that retained the art form’s distinctive character. The results of these collaborations highlight the power of merging education with traditional craft, ensuring these valuable artistic practices continue to thrive in the modern fashion landscape.
