The Incredible Art of Bandhani — Shaped Resist — Textured Cloth
ABOUT BANDHANI
The design on these Bandhani shawls is the result of thousands of tiny knots tied on the cloth before it is dyed. After dyeing, the cloth retains a memory of the resist thread - it takes on a sculptural form unlike anything else.
The name “Bandhani” derives from the Sanskrit term meaning “to tie.” Tied resist is a traditional technique that has been practiced in India for centuries.
Each dot is the result of creating a tiny peak in the cloth and then tightly wrapping thread around the peak to resist the dye. Artisans work with precision as they slowly pattern the entire cloth - a lengthy process with an exquisite outcome. In Japan, this type of shaped resist is known as shibori. In the West small tie-and-dye pieces were widely traded and became known as “bandanas” - after the term bandhani.
To achieve design with this process using natural dyes requires skill and patience. The result of applying bandhani on cotton creates a textile with a unique life of its own.
Maiwa works directly with bandhani artisans working in the Kachchh Desert of Gujarat, Western India.
Above: close up of the sculptural effect of bandhani. The cloth develops a natural elasticity and a life of its own.
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