Textile Society of America
Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings
Date of this Version
2024
Document Type
Presentation
Citation
Textile Society of America 2024 Symposium
Shifts & Strands: Rethinking the Possibilities and Potentials of Textiles, November 12-17, 2024, a virtual event
Abstract
Wild silk, tasar, muga and eri, is much more than miraculous journey of metamorphosis from caterpillar to silken luxury. Caring for wild silkworms in open jungles is nothing like raising white, cultivated silkworms - it is primal - a whole new perspective of the world of silk. The passage from rearing caterpillars to unravelling cocoons making yarn and weaving cloth that possesses the essence of mother nature, is tightly woven to an ancient living culture in remote forests of central and eastern India. It is a celebration of indigenous, Adivasi people ushering their heritage into the contemporary world while preserving their way of life and spirituality. Crafting wild silk provides sustainable work and a regular income, while protecting the environment, supporting communities, and raising the status of women. Within the beautiful silken strands of tawney, gold and papyrus tones and uneven texture lies a captivating story including a cast of characters with an intimate connection binding artisan and the environment. Be transported through photos and stories collected over thirty years of field research into villages to better appreciate the invisible part of wild silk's charm, the love and dedication involved in each part of the process from soil to cloth.
Included in
Art and Materials Conservation Commons, Art Practice Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Fashion Design Commons, Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Museum Studies Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Sustainability Commons
Comments
Published by the Textiles Society of America
Copyright 2024, the author. Used by permission