Meticulous Stitching: Exploring Kutch Embroidery and Kala Cotton Cloth Production
Empowering Artisans and Protecting the Planet: Stitch by Stitch's Kala Cotton Approach
By Karen Sear Shimali of Stitch by Stitch, photos courtesy of Khamir
Highlight: A Sustainable Textile Company that census Indian culture and ecology through their Kala Cotton collection
A Unique Extension of Stitch by Stitch
Kala Cotton is a special type of cotton shr ub in the Kutch region, a region with minimal annual rainfall (less than 40cm), and grown without the aid of additional irrigation or synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This sustainable textile material is at the heart of Stitch by Stitch's mission, enhancing cultural livelihoods with our collection of handmade kantha quilts and cushions.
In partnership with Khamir, an NGO working to foster the rich, creative craft industries of Kutch, and Satvik, an organization advocating for ecological farming practices in the area, the Kala Cotton Initiative preserves the cultivation of indigenous Kala Cotton, supports local farmers, and encourages craft-based textile production.
Reinventing a Forgotten Past
Old World cotton, including indigenous varieties such as Arboretum and Herbaceum, have been grown in parts of India and Pakistan for millennia. However, the introduction of hybridised cotton varieties in the mid-18th century, designed for mill production, led to the decline of traditional production and hand weaving techniques. The devastating earthquake in Kutch in 2001 accelerated industrialization, further straining cultural livelihoods. As a result, the number of Kutch's weavers decreased from over 2000 in the mid-1990s to around 600-700 today.
Kala Cotton, purely rain-fed due to its deep root system, differs significantly from industrialized cotton production. It doesn't require vast quantities of water, unlike Bt cotton, which accounts for the majority of cotton grown in India today. The cultivation of Kala Cotton generates far less CO2 gas, building a more sustainable future for textile production.
Supporting Local Communities, Empowering Artisans
By purchasing all of our Kala Cotton fabrics directly from weavers supported by Khamir to be made into home textiles, Stitch by Stitch works to strengthen the entire supply chain between farmers, ginners, spinners, and weavers of marginalized communities. By creating a new holistic and practical supply chain, the production of Kala Cotton fabric is in total harmony with the local ecology and helps revitalize an old craft value chain for the modern, global market.
One of our valued weavers expresses his pride in his craft, saying, "I am proud of my weaving tradition. It gives us an identity, and helps us to stand on our own feet." Another adds, "I worked as a security man for two years. It was a hard time. Weaving Kala Cotton gets me a fair amount of money. I like working here with the community, as leaving home and traveling for work leaves me unsettled. Weaving is my life... there is a sense of belonging that comes with it."
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- By supporting the cultivation and production of Kala Cotton through the Kala Cotton Initiative, Stitch by Stitch is promoting a sustainable approach in the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden sectors, contributing to the environmental-science movement addressing climate-change issues.
- The unique and traditional Kala Cotton, being rain-fed and cultivated naturally, contrasts with industrialized cotton production methods, creating a more eco-friendly alternative for the lifestyle industry, which aligns with the sustainable-living philosophy.
- By working closely with local artisans and weavers, Stitch by Stitch fosters a sense of pride and independence in their community, thereby supporting the continues survival of the environmental-science heritage in the region, giving a modern twist to the climate-change conversation.
