Al Sadu Society x Kashmir Loom
Al Sadu Society and Kashmir Loom brought together time-honoured Kashmir craftsmanship and the rich heritage of Kuwait's Sadu weaving, blending them through contemporary exploration and innovation.
This special collection was developed in collaboration with Sheikha Altaf Salem Al-Ali Al- Sabah, the visionary founder of the Al Sadu Society.
The Al Sadu Society, established by Sheikha Altaf, is dedicated to celebrating Kuwait's rich and diverse textile heritage. Inspired by the values of creativity and productivity from the nation's past, the Society weaves a cultural identity that bridges both present and future generations.
IMAGE: Sheikha Altaf Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, the visionary founder of the Al Sadu Society with Asaf Ali, co-founder of Kashmir Loom
The Legacy of Sadu Weaving
In the desert, wool weaving is both a practical craft and a form of creative expression, deeply rooted in everyday traditions.
Weaving is a central part of the Bedouin, a nomadic Arab tribe known for their rich cultural heritage and profound connection to the desert. The word 'Bedouin' comes from the Arabic term badu meaning "dwellers of the desert". Primarily done by women, they weave textiles by hand for utilitarian purposes such as tent walls and dividers, floor coverings, storage bags and animal ornamentation. The Bedouin term for a skilled weaver is dhefra, which translates to 'victorious'.
Al-Sadu is a traditional Bedouin weaving style created on a portable ground loom, featuring bright colours such as reds and oranges that enliven desert life. Traditionally the dyes were naturally derived from desert plants, roots or flowers - such as arjoon, arjaf, and terthooth.
The decorative patterns are linear or geometrical, reflecting the purity and simplicity of the desert environment. Motifs like stripes, dots and triangles are combined to flow on in rhythmic repetition and symmetry.
The Heritage of Kashmir's Weaving and Embroidery
Kashmir is known for a type of a luxurious and delicate wool renowned for its softness and warmth, called Pashmina. Often referred to as "soft gold," Pashmina is obtained from the undercoat of the Himalayan goats and is celebrated worldwide for its intricate beauty and unmatched quality. Read more > (Add Link: The Journey of Cashmere)
Much like Bedouin weaving, Kashmir shawls and textiles are intrinsically embedded into the cultural tapestry of the region with textile being celebrated as prized-possessions and heirlooms, passed down from one generation to another.
Among the many types of embroidery practiced in Kashmir, Aari embroidery is known for its intricate and detailed needlework done using a specialized hooked needle similar to a cobbler's hook, this textile craft dates back to the 12th century. Artisans create fine, delicate chain stitch patterns on fabrics, often featuring floral motifs and elaborate designs. This craft requires immense skill and patience, with each piece reflecting the rich heritage of Kashmir. Aari embroidery is especially popular for its elegance and is widely used to enhance shawls, sarees, and other garments.
A Meeting of Two Craft Cultures
The collection amalgamated two beautiful textile traditions, using the cherished Pashmina fabric coupled with skilled weaving techniques and fine needlework found in the Kashmir valley and exquisite patterns and motifs of Bedouin weaves which lent the inspiration to pursue a joint collaboration.
Understanding the parallels between the two traditions and the potential for a joint exploration, we at Kashmir Loom, attempted to translate the motifs and weaves of Bedouins into our Cashmere textiles with the intricate weaves and patterns and fine needlework the Kashmir valley, creating breathtaking designs celebrating the two cultures.
Focusing on the weaving techniques, this collection has been an innovative effort for the Kashmir Loom weavers, who have pushed their boundaries and extended their expertise to new arenas. This has been our first successful attempt to execute Ikat weaving with warp resist dyeing.
Focusing on the weaving techniques, this collection has been an innovative effort for the Kashmir Loom weavers, who have pushed their boundaries and extended their expertise to new arenas. This has been our first successful attempt to execute Ikat weaving with warp resist dyeing.
Additionally, this has been our first instance of executing Aari embroidery on woven pashmina.
Bedouin and Beyond
For our special exhibition at Sadu House, we crafted unique artworks and larger-than-life panels that merged Kashmir's traditional craftsmanship with Sadu motifs and colors.
The one-of-a-kind textile panels were suspended from the ceiling to drape Sadu House. These artworks featured intricate hand embroideries by Kashmir artisans - Aari and Crewel work.
For our special exhibition at Sadu House, we crafted unique artworks and larger-than-life panels that merged Kashmir's traditional craftsmanship with Sadu motifs and colors.
The series comprised eight 24x24inch artworks, three 120x120cms square textile panels and three 100x300cms long textile panels.
Sharing our love of textile art
The attendees explored the intricate art of chain stitching, guided by our co-founder Asaf Ali and master craftsman Mushtaq Ahmad. These hand-on activities are our small attempt to foster a deep understand and appreciation of handmade artistry.
This workshop was part of our special collaboration with Al Sadu Society, celebrating the rich craft tradition of Kashmir, brought to life by the hands of a true master craftsman.
