From just a few drawings extracted from the ‘Tired but Wired’ project, this sibling project emerged and evolved into something of its own with the aim being to develop designs that celebrated Khadi’s values of ethical, sustainable and community based production as part of Khadi London’s competition. I was fortunate enough to be connected with artisan weavers in Chhattisgarh who translated my drawings of diamond motifs and gradating stripes into large silky swaths of fabric woven using their local indigenous forest silk. Much of the silk used was left undyed to reveal some of the natural textures and colours of the fibres that are often affected by the local climate conditions in which they are cultivated. 

 

Courtesy of Khadi London in partnership with the High Commission of India and Chelsea College of Art UAL, for hosting the competition and helping to coordinate the collaborative project. And in courtesy of the Grameen Vikas Pratisthan partners in Chhattisgarh for producing these indigenous forest silk fabrics.