Banjara Embroidery

I love the vibrancy of Banjara work, from the decorated bags, purses, 

quilts et al.   Bags are usually made of loose weave linen like fabric,

dyed with madder or indigo.   Interlaced patterns on a running

stitch base, embellished with tassels, mirrors, and cowrie shells.

two embroidered belts -these are heavily stitched

over stitch, close herring bone and chain stitch

the top belt has the addition of mirror work

Originally from north India the Banjara became carriers

for the Mughal emperor Auranzeb.  With the arrival

of the railway system they were no longer required.

Nowadays, Banjara, both men and woman can be

seen doing manual labour on building sites and

working on the new motorways being built

across India.  A strange site, the newest machinery

for road building, along side Banjara women moving

earth in a metal dish carried on their heads.   Even so,

they wear their traditional embroidered clothes, 

complete with silver jewelry.  

In Kanartaka, Lamanis, a sub caste of the Banjara,

move to Goa for the season.   The 'boys' run the

food shacks on the beach, their mother's sell 

tourist clothes, bags, scarves etc.  Every Wednesday

there is a flea market at Anjuna, north Goa.  Hippie

heaven, however, here you will find Lamani ladies,

selling their traditional work.

Sonya in all her tribal jewelry glory

detail of the sleeve of her chola

Khumb buttons, mirror work and tassels

I watched her stitching.  No fine thread,

but acrylic wool.

skirt detail - cotton, pieced, with borders

of appliqued saw tooth points.

Inspired by Sonya's skirt, Banjara stitching, here is my

Journal Quilt for February.

and a detail