Vishali

“I’ve really enjoyed the workshop, particularly as it was an opportunity to learn new designs, such as tube light, which I had no previous knowledge of. This workshop has been different to those I have done previously as I got to upcycle and re-use waste fabrics which isn’t something I get to do when I’m working for clients. Usually all the work I get is prescribed to me, but in this workshop I’ve been free to experiment and express myself; working creatively like this is much better than having to work to a prescribed format but I need to do this to sustain a lively hood for myself. Moving forward it would be good to use the work we make to turn into marketable goods such as bags; I’ve previously worked with a footwear designer so I could also use this experience to make products.”

Shantiben

“It was great to be part of the workshop, I really enjoyed working with the waste fabrics together as a group. When I work at home there are many distractions which can divert me from my work, but working like this makes my productivity better.  Working in the group also gave me a lot more confidence in my own abilities and reassurance that the work I am making is good and to the best of my abilities. I’ve loved being able to concentrate on practicing my craft and inventing fresh new designs. I’m very keen to be involved in the future workshops as I feel there is more strength in the project if there are further workshops and we keep the momentum of the project alive. I would be interested to engage in more workshops.”

Miraben

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first workshop experience, especially as working in a group has brought back many fond memories of working with my Mother and the work we did together. I made Emma and LOkesh both an appliquéd fan which was a motivation of this workshop as I’ve only ever made fans in embroidery before, but the workshop has really increased my confidence to experiment making new products using applique. Seeing me actively working again my granddaughter has shown an interest in learning my skills so I’ll be teaching her, and any of her friends who want to learn, during the school breaks.”

Kuverben

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the workshop, particularly because it has given me an opportunity to exercise my mind and expanded my thinking by working with different people. Having the group’s influence on my work has helped me to open my imagination and develop new designs which is something I’m never asked to do by clients. I’m very keen to be included in future workshops as it is an opportunity to develop my ideas further which will all influence my future work. Something I particularly enjoyed was the opportunity to draw again; when I was young I would always draw in my school book. I was very fond of drawing but life’s pressures got in the way and I stopped drawing. When I was asked to draw again I remembered recently throwing away my drawing book which was something I suddenly regretted as it would have been good to share my work with the others. It’s something I’d like to start doing again if I can find the time.”

Jamnaben

“My experience during the workshop has been great, I’ve enjoyed working with new people and I got to use old fabric to make new things. As well as this I’ve been well paid for my skills which is always a bonus. At the beginning of the workshop when we used paper and drew, this was the first time I had used either of these materials which helped to bring me out of my comfort zone.”

“If LOkesh or Emma can create further opportunities to do workshops and collaborations with new contacts I, and I’m sure the rest of the group, would very much welcome them. Having previously worked with students at the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the National Institute of Design, I always learn something new and am usually exposed to new materials; something I see as a great advantage. The work I do for other companies is about sustaining a livelihood for my family and it’s an important thing for the rest of the community too.”

Deviben

“The best thing about this workshop is that we are all equal parts within the project and the act of working together brings us closer as a community and helps us to learn new skills and techniques from one another; something I’ve really enjoyed. When I work at the NGO, I only get to teach others how to make blouses and dresses and never have the opportunity to develop my own practice, something this workshop has given me the opportunity to do. I’ve particularly enjoyed working in my own traditional heritage craft, something I take a great pride in. I’ve been paid well during the workshop which makes a huge difference to my self-esteem as a maker and helps me feel much more appreciated as a skilled craftsperson. I hope the workshops can continue as I’d like to do something new and challenge myself in the next workshop.”

“Maybe going forward we could think about the workshops having a theme and eventually teach and involve other participants. It would also be good to change the host venue of the workshop to reflect the people who are involved and where they come from.  These workshops feel important because we take so much pride in our traditional craft which is such a large part of our heritage. Its presence in the market also gives us a lot of confidence to keep working.”

Dahiben

“I’ve had a great time experimenting with my craft within the workshop.  It has been an opportunity to work in a way that I’ve been unable to do for a long time as before the workshop I was just working on saris for various clients. I’ve been motivated to make something new in this workshop, something really refreshing that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. This is only the second time that I have been able to work with LOkesh and try something new and I’m really very keen to do more, as if I can get more work, I can put together more money for my children’s education. If the workshops were held at my home or nearby this would help me to attend as it will save on travel time and transport costs as my home is 17kms away from Vadj.”

After a day’s break to allow time for reflection, the second day of the project was a chance for the group to continue making their traditional sampler designs and also saw the addition of a seventh member to the group, Jamnaben’s sister Miraben. It was interesting to see the group together in a sort of sewing circle out of which came numerous discussions of what samplers still needed to be made, who was to make the sampler and what colour combination should be used. Although the group were back working within their traditional media, it was obvious that their design ethic and consideration had been fully activated through the previous days tasks.

Later that day Premjibhai, Jamnaben’s husband, took Emma and LOkesh on a tour around another part of the community which was heavily involved in the production of shoes for the local markets. Something that made this visit so pertinent to the project was that numerous members of the group’s husbands worked within this small industrial space to earn the family’s livelihood through the trade. Winding through small cramped lanes, Premjibhai led LOkesh and Emma through the village stopping at various different parts of the production process and at workshops that worked with numerous different types of materials. A lot of the workshops who were involved in one part of the production process would usually pass their part completed products to family relations, working just a few doors down, to continue with the next stage of the process. The community was a small mass production process passed from family to family until the product was complete.

The day’s session of making continued into the afternoon with Emma and LOkesh making their own samplers under the expert supervision of the group. Later that afternoon, the group had visits from other members of the community’s pets, including Honey and Sweety the rabbits and a tortoise who lived just a few doors down from where the workshop was being held. The atmosphere was a relaxed and productive one, so much so that it seemed odd to think of any other way of this craft being produced.