It took me a year to go and visit her, but finally I did. Suraiyaji, an octogenarian, still runs her shop "Suraiya's traditional weaves and crafts", a school "Safrani memorial" and supervises the weaving daily in her workshop. She has trained widows from the neighbourhood who have no way to earn their livelihood, and taken in their children in her school free of cost - all to try and give them a sense of the the world. The school is co-education and the children learn of the possibilities and of a world beyond their own. She can't afford to give them a mid-day meal but she does make sure that they know how to eat with a spoon and use a napkin.
A gentle lady with a strong sense of purpose Suraiyaji showed us around her workshop where she is trying to revive the art of Persian brocade. Each loom produces only about 4 inches per day and it takes two ladies an entire day to weave that much.A graf is made first to ensure utmost precision and the price of course reflects all that.She is particular that not a single thread is woven wrong. She would rather cut the piece away than sell it. When I said, "Oh, but most people won't be able to make out if there is a minor mistake" she replied "But I will".
The fabrics are beautiful. The persian brocade with the silk embroidery was special and I was like a child in wonderland - so many different and beautiful fabrics and such rich colors and shine. The hand-painted scarfs from machlipatanam, the mangalgiri block prints, the kalamkari prints that are made to fade, narayanpeta fabrics with wonderful peacock hues, and pochampally. So many rich colours and traditions of India woven into fabrics.
I ended up shopping - with advise from her - don't waste the fabric. you are slim, so you won't need a meter- 80 cms should be fine. What a wonderful anachronism and an inspiration. And on my way out from the shop - I could not resist asking her - "What are the plants that she has at the entrance? There are pieces of charcoal in the pots". She said, "Oh, those are Orchids- they need the charcoal". I thanked her again and left feeling completely inspired. She grows Orchids in Hyderabad - that alone is hugely admirable and to add to all of what she had already told me, whew - I was impressed.
A gentle lady with a strong sense of purpose Suraiyaji showed us around her workshop where she is trying to revive the art of Persian brocade. Each loom produces only about 4 inches per day and it takes two ladies an entire day to weave that much.A graf is made first to ensure utmost precision and the price of course reflects all that.She is particular that not a single thread is woven wrong. She would rather cut the piece away than sell it. When I said, "Oh, but most people won't be able to make out if there is a minor mistake" she replied "But I will".
The fabrics are beautiful. The persian brocade with the silk embroidery was special and I was like a child in wonderland - so many different and beautiful fabrics and such rich colors and shine. The hand-painted scarfs from machlipatanam, the mangalgiri block prints, the kalamkari prints that are made to fade, narayanpeta fabrics with wonderful peacock hues, and pochampally. So many rich colours and traditions of India woven into fabrics.
I ended up shopping - with advise from her - don't waste the fabric. you are slim, so you won't need a meter- 80 cms should be fine. What a wonderful anachronism and an inspiration. And on my way out from the shop - I could not resist asking her - "What are the plants that she has at the entrance? There are pieces of charcoal in the pots". She said, "Oh, those are Orchids- they need the charcoal". I thanked her again and left feeling completely inspired. She grows Orchids in Hyderabad - that alone is hugely admirable and to add to all of what she had already told me, whew - I was impressed.
Inspiring indeed!!
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