The principle of handloom and the use of natural dye is front and centre in Tanaporen and Sheva's Sustainable Jamdani. As shown in the poster image, Tanaporen displays some of the natural ingredients used to make the dye next to dyed yarn samples, which are sometimes woven in the handloom displayed in the store during demonstrations by master weavers.
The role of natural dye in the revival of handloom versus using chemical dye is an essential part of critically analyzing sustainable fashion and the steps of production. Another natural dye is Indigo dying, which, similar to muslin, had a difficult history during the British Raj, including problematic labor and economic conditions that my older relatives remember.
I am a senior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Art History. My research interests include South Asian Art, Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century European Art, and Clothing.
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