Where To Buy The Heritage Handlooms Of Kutch

The landscape of Kutch (also spelled Kachchh) acts as a stark backdrop for some of the most vivid and colourful textiles in India. With a range of diverse yet syncretic communities, it is also one of the country's biggest hubs for crafts and textiles. The region is known for the exquisite embroidery work of nomadic tribes as well as for textiles made of "kala cotton", one of the few genetically pure cotton species remaining in India. Indigenous to Kutch, kala cotton is one of the only species of old-world cotton that is still around. It is a rain-fed crop and does not use any pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. The best part is that these organisations sustain local craft livelihoods and use local resources. If you are ever in the area, these are the places you must visit to experience the art of some of the most stunning examples of ancient textile traditions in the world.