Threads That Unite Us: Reflections from IFAM

I returned from the annual International Folk Art Market last week, inspired and impressed. As usual, I was overwhelmed by the color, beauty, and ingenuity of the world’s artists.

A Treasury of Friends

I love best meeting old friends at the market and this year, visiting with Rangina Hamidi, founder of Kandahar Treasure, was one of my highlights. I first met Rangina several years ago when I worked on her book Embroidering within Boundaries: Afghan Women Creating a Future. The Kandahar artisans’ stories are a remarkable testament to the strength of women and the conviction of maintaining a tradition against all odds. I hadn’t seen Rangina in years, and it was such a delight to be in her company once again—she truly shines light wherever she goes—and to learn that Kandahar Treasure carries on.

I also met friends from the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, Peru; the beloved rug hooking and embroidery team from Multicolores, Guatemala; and dear Jabbar Khatri with his exquisite bandani from Bhuj, India. Catching up with Rachna Sachasinh, the founder of the artisan group Tikkiwallah was especially meaningful. Our Summer 2026 Blue and White issue featured the needlework of Tikkiwallah, and I gave Rachna copies of the magazine to bring back to the artisans in Laos and Thailand. She couldn't wait to show the women their photos and story in print and told me how much it would mean to them to see their handiwork recognized in this way.

Kandahar Treasure artisans stitched together a wall hanging from strips of khamak embroidery leftover from tailored garments.

When Craft Becomes Connection

Meeting up with friends is one reason I keep going back to the Folk Art Market, but I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to connect with artisans in person, to take their work in hand and feel the textures, admire the colors, and look into the maker's eyes with complete admiration.

There are some surprises along the way, too such as watching Cerilia Aragon Cortes, carding wool with a thistle and then seeing the gorgeous ponchos woven with that wool. Kullvi Whims from Himal Pradesh in the north of India had the most gorgeous jackets woven with naturally dyed wool and embroidered with traditional motifs from the Bakrewal stitchers of the Kashmir region. Embroidery that reminded me of the colors and motifs of Finnish embroidery on traditional costumes. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that despite all the differences in culture and geography, colors and thread and even geometry continue to unite us. And that’s probably the real reason I return to the Folk Art Market again, and again.

Enjoy this little video that shows just a hint of market magic!

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To discover more about the artisans at Kandahar Treasure and their exquisite khamak embroidery:

• Read “A Khamak Primer” in the Fall 2018 issue of PieceWork
  
• Listen to the Long Thread Podcast interview with Anne Merrow and Rangina Hamidi

Happy day,

Karen