Tangaliya Textile craft

Tangaliya is an indigenous weaving craft in which extra yarns in contrast colours are knotted around the yarns of the fabric during the weaving process to create embossed bead-like patterns. Each bead or dana, as its locally called, lends itself to creating the whole motif, which is seen clearly on both sides of the fabric.

The craft has deep rooted history of about 700 years in Gujarat, West Coast of India. Popularly practiced in the region of Saurashtra, the weavers’ eyes and hands are trained to meticulously twist the decorative yarns with the right tension to get the desired pattern. It was a craft first practiced by the Dangasia community, a shepherd community.

Tangaliya is a rare craft not known to be practiced anywhere else on the globe.

At 11.11/eleven eleven, the Tangaliya fabric is made of indigenous organic cotton or kala cotton, hand spun on a portable charka called peti charka. The motifs are inspired by some traditional forms taken from every day elements of use such as water, well etc.

 Photo credits to Pratik Khatri