Indian heritage of upcycling _ Gudri weaving

Indian quilting traditions are the oldest and most eclectic in the world, which sets them apart from other crafts. Indian quilts and quilt makers are part of a living tradition that goes back about 4,000 years. Many textiles and techniques have made their way into Gujarati and Rajasthani quilt making, which is firmly established in the region's culture. Mendicants and Fakirs used to make simple patchwork quilts to keep themselves warm in the winters. This eventually seeped into Indian mainstream culture. Local women started to collect scrap pieces of cloth and stitched them together to make patchwork baby blankets or quilts. Gudari mats come in an array of colorful patchworks which signify the signals emitted by each color that affects the mental, physical and psychological state of a person. Our saffron mat represents purity and a quest for light while the green mat represents happiness and peace. 

weaving tradition is a need to minimize expenditure on raw materials to make fabrics, reduce waste, satisfy a creative need and build the community, the last of which was a pleasant incidental outcome. Stuff that is considered trend-setting, clever and ecoresponsible in the global textile and fashion now and even has a name – Upcycling. 

Upcycling is not merely re-using or re-purposing old objects or fabrics that are at the end of their lifecycle. To upcycle is to create something new, of better value and quality. In developing economies like India, the impact of upcycling – besides being a valuable step in the waste management chain is on the creation of additional employment opportunities.  

Globally too, upcycling is cementing its position as more than just a passing trend in the textile and apparel segment.

Designers are working to eliminate their ‘fabric liability’ and celebrating the slow – fashion ideology to create attention-grabbing outfits and finding an increasingly faithful audience for them. In India, upcycling has always been part of design for even the most mundane,

everyday objects and is deeply ingrained in our social and cultural fabric. Gradually, it has leapt out of the realm of subsistence to art that meets the needs of the society. With the raw charm of found objects and a tangible list of benefits for the planet, upcycling is here to stay and the Gudri weaving is one of the way to upcycle, modernizing the Gudri art gets us the return products which are best in its use.  

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