India is a massive diverse country - one minute you can see wonderful designer clothes being worn by beautiful young women and in the same street young children dodging in and out of the traffic begging for a few rupees to survive. This said the warmth of its people is second to none and the hospitality is overwhelming and very humbling. They do not waste anything and the most surprising sight I saw once was an old sari being burnt and the silver embroidery thread collected to sell to a local silversmith for cash - all in the local bazaar!
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My love affair with India, especially Gujarat and the North West began in 2005 when I went with a couple of other friends on holiday. Little knowing it would change my life forever.
Having read an article, in a well known travel magazine about Gujarat, I knew straight away that I had to go there. I managed to persuade the others that we needed at least 3 days there (not really enough in the greater scale of things) but it worked. On the flight home my friend asked "when are we going back" to which I replied "October". This has turned out to be 2 to 3 times annually ever since - the spell was cast, never to be broken. Now semi-retired I have more time to indulge my passion for India and it's truly amazing textiles. The people and artisans I have had the privilege to meet over the years have become some of my dearest friends and I "thank you" all for your continued support. |
The collection offers a beautiful range of old embroidered tribal textiles and jewellery alongside individual contemporary pieces by local artisans. Initially the Into India collection was to have been for my own enjoyment but as retirement loomed it was decided that it would be good if this could be shared with others (this had been at the back if my mind even when travelling in Kenya many years before).
Recently I discovered that my descendants were from the Huguenot weavers who fled from France in the 1500's from religious persecution. My mother was trained as a court dressmaker in London and my aunt as a heraldic embroiderer. This must be where my inbuilt love of textiles comes from although there was never any passion for dressmaking - no doubt she is looking down on me now and "gloating" that she has at last caught the interest of her wayward daughter after all these years - I know mum you would have been in your element rummaging through all of my treasures. |