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Threads of Heritage: Indian Textiles – Day 3

A day dedicated to the beauty of slow processes and mindful making. The masterclass on Slow Stitch unfolded the depth and diversity of India’s hand embroidery traditions, celebrating craft as both technique and storytelling. This was followed by immersive workshops—creating theme-based wall panels through Dabu and Bagru block printing with natural dyes, and engaging in hands-on hand embroidery at the Stitch Studio—bringing together surface, texture, and narrative in every detail.
Pic 6: wall panel using Dabu and Bagru printing

Threads of Heritage: Indian Textiles – Day 2

From understanding the artistry behind resist-dyed textiles to experiencing the process firsthand, Day 2 unfolded as a deep dive into India’s handcrafted traditions. The masterclass on Tied, Bound & Transformed explored the rich legacy of resist dyeing, followed by immersive, hands-on workshops in block printing, natural dyeing, and tie & dye—bringing craft, process, and storytelling together in every thread.

Day 1 at Manchester Metropolitan University marked the beginning of Threads of Heritage – Indian Textile Module, bringing together history, craft, and hands-on learning. The day featured an insightful masterclass on “How India Clothed the World,” tracing the global influence of Indian traded textiles, alongside immersive sessions in traditional techniques like Dabu resist printing and two-colour Bagru printing. It was a rich exploration of India’s textile legacy, blending cultural narratives with practical engagement.

Weaved through skill, tradition, and community, the textiles of India  hold the stories of countless generations. At the Manchester Metropolitan University, United  Kingdom, NIFT
hosts Indian Textile Week—Threads of Heritage, bringing these stories to a globalclassroom.
The program is scheduled to take place from March 30th to the 2 nd  April, 2026, and it is an initiative that has been designed by Ms. Tanu Kashyap, Director General of NIFT, and
spearheaded by Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary Textiles, GoI. The module will be led by Prof. Purva Khurana and Dr. Sasmita Panda, with the assistance of Master Craftsman
Roshan Chhipa, a well-known Hand Block printing  craftsmen  from Bagru, Rajasthan.
As part of their coursework, students at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design will investigate Indian textile history, practice, and sustainability through the lens of modern design.

Slide 1, Dabu printing, a traditional mud-resist hand-block printing technique from Bagru, Rajasthan.

Slide 2: From Craft Cluster Initiative of NIFT

Five days, countless stories of Indian Textiles and heritage!

Our Indian Textile Module was a vibrant journey through tradition, technique, and contemporary design. From exploring the rich spectrum of handlooms and painting with natural dyes in Kalamkari, to experimenting with block printing, students at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Auckland, New Zealand, immersed themselves in the beauty of craft.

The week unfolded with conversations on sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and the evolving narrative of textiles, culminating in a stunning student showcase of original creations and interpretation in Kalamkari technique.

This is an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles to introduce international design students to the diversity of Indian Textiles and facilitate cross-cultural exchange through academic collaboration. A special thanks to Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India, who was accompanied by his wife. A heartfelt thank you to everyone -faculty and students of Whitecliffe, who made this experience meaningful, celebrating heritage, creativity, and the future of design together.

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