Project
HANDSPUN - HAND DYED- HAND WOVEN
Participatory Design project
Overview
A design project of three months done in collaboration with an NGO Khamir based in Bhuj, Kutch, India. This project is based on a participatory and mutual learning approach and working in close relations with weavers to revive Desi wool and Kala cotton (indigenous fibres).
Challenge
The main challenge of this project was convincing weavers to adopt Desi wool, as its textile properties aren't ideally suited for smooth weaving. Additionally, developing a range of woven fabric products for commercialization posed another significant challenge.
Solution
A collaborative project with NGO Khamir in Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat helped in mutual learning and co-creating with weavers to revive Desi wool and promote Kala cotton. This ultimately assisted in reducing carbon footprints by looking at a new market and diverse design directions by re-linking ecological and social aspects of the region to create a localized production system in terms of meaningful livelihoods and sustainable trade
My Role - Innovation and Textile Designer
Year 2017 - 2018
Team - Aavrati Kushwaha, Dinesh Bhai, Sudeshna Saxena, Akash Kumar
Deliverables - The project resulted in a product development of a textile handspun handwoven poncho and stole, Report and display
Stakeholders – NGO Khamir, Dyers community, Weavers, Textile design Students, Women spinning the desi wool yarn
Skills used – Weaving, Color and material use, dying, design thinking, market research
Soft Skills - Communication skills, Empathy, Co-designing, Critical thinking, Design thinking
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Developing the relationship with weavers and NGO Khamir
Making the brief and moodboarrd with the stakeholder
Field visit for
more research
Co-design with the weavers
Process
Understanding the environment/system
Analysis of trends
Conceptualization & Prototyping
Final Product Development
"Participatory design is a democratic process for design (social and technological) of systems involving human work "
Inspiration Moodboard - Looking back at precious memories that are lost in the new age of technology.Shifting from an ongoing phenomenon of reduced outdoor activities/interpersonal relations due to westernisation and increased use of technology in daily life
Trend Study
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User personas developed for the final products
Cleaned fibres of desi wool
Working with our weaver at Badli, Kutch
Hand Dyed Desi wool
Dinesh Bhai weaving the stole using Desi wool yarn
Hand Spun desi wool
