Under the organized intervention in design and technological upgradation, National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT) Gandhinagar has re-explored the potential of Bhindi fibre as a potential material for Rugs, dhurries and carpets, at Bahmni Village of Malpur, Sabarkantha , Gujarat.
NIFT has set academic standards and excelled in thought leadership by providing a pool of creative genius and technically competent professionals. The Institute provides a common platform for Design education, research and training.
Bhindi or Lady's Finger is a major vegetable crop. Its stem, which is six to ten feet long, is mostly burned as fuel. Long strand fibres have been extracted from the stems of bhindi plant using conventional retting process, carded into sliver and then used to produce ropes.
Farmers who grow bhindi can now look forward to making more money. Thanks to a new use that scientists have found for the plant's stem that is currently thrown away as waste.
Recently, during one of the design development workshops of NIft, The ropes produced by the farmers/artisans were woven into carpets, rugs, floor cushions, floor spreads and prayer mats, thus adding value to a traditional fibre/rope.
With involvement of weavers at Andhra Pradesh and coordination of NIFT, weaving was done. Though the entire activity is still in its experimental stage, future seems to be commendable. Shortly NIFT shall intervene with more field level experimentations with master weavers of Surendranagar, working along with the traditional rope artisans of Malpur,Sabarkantha.
National Institute of Fashion Technology, India
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