Author

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Chitra Balasubramaniam writes, collects, experiments with textiles, and follows her passions by writing about food, travel, and heritage. She dabbles with stock-investment analysis and research. She also runs a small travel guide at visitors2delhi.com.

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Unraveling the Mystery of a Sodha Rajput Masala Bag

Follow an Indian textile collector on her quest to discover the origins of her newly acquired bag.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Ledra Quilts: Giving New Life to My Mother’s Sarees
Peel back the layers of recycled sarees to uncover the history of ledra quilts in India. Find out how the handstitched motifs rejuvenate reused textiles into striking works of needle art.
Chitra Balasubramaniam
A Uzbekistan Suzani to Treasure
A simple design, minute satin stitches, and fabulous colors in the base fabric and stitching drew Chitra to this suzani textile.
Chitra Balasubramaniam

Surma Dani: An Embroidered Bag from Afghanistan

In a market, Chitra chanced upon a little bag from Afghanistan, which led her to research its tribal origins.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Chantilly Lace in India

A query about how French lace goods came to be used as a saree fabric in India resulted in a search for more information. Chitra Balasubramaniam shares what she discovered.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Banjara Dowry Purse

The Banjara embroidery design on a small dowry purse comprises simple squares, rectangles, and line work. But oh! The colors!

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Intricately Stitched Tablecloth from Afghanistan

Done in khamak, an intricate form of embroidery, this dastarkhan consists of delicate silk satin stitches on finely woven fabric.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Chakla—Part of a Collective Vocabulary

Can a simple square piece of cloth decorated with fine embroidery be a part of the collective heritage of a community? The answer is yes when it comes to the chakla.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Crochet from India

Contributor Chitra Balasubramaniam shares a beautiful piece that ties into history.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

A Wedding Headdress from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan

Gold and beadwork adorn this traditional headdress, which was one of Chitra’s first pieces for her collection of textiles.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

The Goddess's Seat: A Small Sujni Quilt

With no flowers or animals, the geometric motif of this quilted sujni was an unusual find.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

A Modern-Style Dowry Bag with Traditional Embroidery

This embroidered dowry bag bridges the gap between the traditional and modern. The shape meets the demands of current trends, but the stitching pays tribute to the needlework of vintage dowry bags.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Game of Kings: The Embroidered Caupar Game Board

The ancient game of Caupar is mentioned in several historical records, and several old paintings and embroidery pieces show kings and subjects playing it with gusto. It is still played with gusto across India.

Chitra Balasubramaniam

Unraveling the Mystery of a Sodha Rajput Masala Bag

Ledra Quilts: Giving New Life to My Mother’s Sarees

A Uzbekistan Suzani to Treasure

Surma Dani: An Embroidered Bag from Afghanistan

Chantilly Lace in India

Banjara Dowry Purse

Intricately Stitched Tablecloth from Afghanistan

Chakla—Part of a Collective Vocabulary

Crochet from India

A Wedding Headdress from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan

The Goddess's Seat: A Small Sujni Quilt

A Modern-Style Dowry Bag with Traditional Embroidery

Game of Kings: The Embroidered Caupar Game Board