2 weeks ago

From Embroidery Ban to Colourful Bags Empowering 300 Women Artisans

From Embroidery Ban to Colourful Bags Empowering 300 Women Artisans
She Turned a Ban on Wedding Embroidery Into Colourful Bags Supporting 300 Women Artisans · thebetterindia.com

Long ago, women in the Rabari community of Kutch, India, made beautiful embroidery.

But the community leaders banned wedding embroidery because it took too much time.

This made the women sad because embroidery was a big part of their culture.

Instead of giving up, they invented a new, faster way to decorate fabric using ribbons and colourful trims.

They called this new style Hari Jari.

A woman named Pabiben Rabari made a special bag using this style.

The bag became very popular and even appeared in movies.

Pabiben started a website to sell the bags in 2015.

Now, more than 300 women make and sell these colourful bags.

The craft that was banned turned into a job that gives women money and keeps their tradition alive.

Key facts

Founder
Pabiben Rabari
Enterprise
Pabiben.com, launched in 2015
Signature technique
Hari Jari
Artisans supported
More than 300 women across Kutch
Origin village
Kukadsar, Kutch
Community ban
Dhebaria Rabari banned wedding embroidery in the 1990s
Films featuring bags
Luck by Chance (Bollywood); The Other End of the Line (Hollywood)
Product range
Bags, purses, toiletry kits, files, quilts, cushion covers

Sources

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