Ahmedbad textile workshop revives lost glory of Parsi embroi

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Source: Webindia123, India


Ahmedbad textile workshop revives lost glory of Parsi embroidery
Ahmedabad | August 12, 2005 3:29:53 PM IST

A one-week long workshop, with an aim to revive the lost glory of classic Parsi embroidery "Gara", is currently going on here.

Ahmedabad, also known as the Manchester of India is one of the last remaining humbs of the shrinking Parsi community in India. The Parsis belong to the Zoroastrian religious sect in India.

"Gara" is the Parsi's distinctive style of embroidery, which stands apart for its unique motifs. The visually rich "Gara" embroidery sarees, originally considered Parsi family heirlooms, became rare collectors' items because of their intricate, complicated work and exorbitant prices.

But over the years, the popularity of the "Gara" has waned. Artisans too have switched over to easier and quicker ways of earning money as it could take upto nine months to complete each "Gara".

The week-long workshop has been organized by the Ministry of Textiles to preserve the dying craft and introduce young Parsis to professional designers who have come up with new techniques.

"This is an attempt to revive the great tradition of Parsi embroidery which is in the danger of dying. The enthusiasm with which people have come forward in Ahmedabad for this first workshop that shows that it will not die and there are enough people both as craftspeople as entrepreneurs," A.M. Sethna, President of Parzor Foundation, said.

Set up in 1999 by UNESCO, the Parzor Foundation project initiated preservation and promotion efforts of Zoroastrian culture and heritage. The Parzor foundation was created to carry forward the work initiated by the world body.

The Parzor workshops will draw upon the expertise of some of India's best designers as well as Parsi practitioners of the craft.

The foundation hopes to use the sessions as an opportunity for enterprising Parsis to build teams, collaborate with craftsmen and develop a business module, which will take forward the heritage.

"This is a very multi-cultural craft because even though the trade has come from China, there is a lot of European influence in the embroidery. When we trace this and in the research that we have done, we have found that a lot of motifs have come from Persia. We want more and more people to see it," said Ashdeen Lilaowala, an entrepreneur.

The Gara's history is as colourful as the garment itself.

Textile experts believe it was probably introduced in India by Parsi traders in the 19th century who used to travel to China for trade. Originally, it was an item created by the Chinese and patronized by the Parsis. But Indian Parsi craftsmen refined it from the original bulky forms.

The intermingling and connection between the Chinese materials and motifs and the Parsis who wore these garments went much beyond a mere buyer-supplier relationship. The historical trade in silk between India and China, the incorporation of European designs, all went to create a unique fabric. (ANI)