Jamdani, or “flower pot,” is a traditional handloom technique where extra warp and weft yarns are inserted to create embroidery-like motifs on fine cotton muslin. Its origin lies in Mughal patronage. The story goes that Mughal emperors, who loved silk brocades, found them too heavy for India’s summer heat. They commissioned Indian weavers to recreate similar motifs in fine cotton. The result was the intricate Jamdani weaving technique.
Over time, Jamdani continued to evolve. The floral motifs once inspired by the Mughals slowly gave way to new forms, such as the fish motif, drawn from Bengal’s local culture. Once a royal fabric, it became the beloved textile for Dhakai sarees worn by women across Bengal.
Today, this heritage craft faces a new challenge. The painstaking and labor-intensive technique is fading fast. Only a few hundred Jamdani weavers remain, many struggling to survive and forced to abandon their art for daily wages.
This collection is my attempt to reinvent Jamdani with contemporary motifs and colors that bring utility into our modern lives. Through this work, we aim to create strong market linkages that sustain the livelihoods of these artisans.
This collection is not only a result of a design collaboration with our brand partners in Singapore, but also the outcome of a year long incubation effort with the weaver community in Bengal.
To learn more about our collaboration with jamdani weavers, write to us at outreach@sonicasarna.com.
