The Women Who Make Our Wardrobe And Our Beds Look Sensational

India has several firsts to its name, from discovering the Zero to inventing yoga. But there is another Indian achievement that dates back thousands of years and which is not spoken of as commonly – that of weaving. The country has a rich weaving history, and the times gone by abound with examples of Indian weaving dating back to 5,000 years. The earliest weaves were sarees made for royal women in the 12^th and 13^th centuries. Later, other fabrics like cotton, wool, silk and a blend of cotton-silk were introduced gradually.

The country has a strong weaving economy, mostly employing women. Most weaving in India continues to be on handlooms, with cotton and wool fabrics in high demand. From clothes to bed linen like bed sheets, comforters and dohars, weaving offers a range of products for a discerning India.

Women And Weaving

Throughout history, there is evidence of weaving being an integral part of Indian culture through various cave paintings, frescos and carvings. These depict a person’s social rank and status through their articles of clothing, while some even depict the richness of furnishings among royal homes. Interestingly, many of these depict women as weavers – a tradition that continues to this day.

Women form a large part of the weaving workforce in India, and they are employed not just to work handlooms but also in supply chain and logistics management. Most weaving in India, as mentioned earlier, employs cotton fabric. Cotton bedsheets, coverings, pillow cases, even curtains and clothing, are woven using cotton fibres – these are then crafted into the most stunning pieces of work featuring different colours and patterns. Some of the collections inspired by the rich cultural weaving traditions in Rangana SPACES catalogue include:

Nalgona

The Nalgona collection pays tribute to Pochampalli Ikat sarees carrying the 'Double Ikat' design. In this type of design, threads are dyed before being woven together to create stunning masterpieces.

Padma Priya

Padma Priya is inspired by Pipili Appliqué, the centuries-old decorative art form of Orissa and is made by sowing patches of fabric in eclectic shapes and patterns. The designs make for a beautiful collection that form a fusion between tradition and modernity.

Debjani

This collection is inspired by Kantha, one of the oldest forms of embroidery craft in India. By making use of running stitches, the Debjani collection shows you a story using floral, animal, and geometric motifs. Traditionally worn during ceremonies like weddings and births, this beautiful collection will evoke the feeling of festivities in your home all year round!

We see and buy the finished products in markets all over the country, but have we ever spared a thought to the hard work, talent and ingenuity of the thousands of women involved in bringing us our woven clothing and bed linen? On the International Day of the Girl Child, let us salute the hard work, talent and ingenuity of the thousands of women working tirelessly to clothe us and furnish our homes.

Cotton Bed Linen – The Preferred Choice Of All

Handloom cotton bed linen is superior and unique, and it is often gifted as well as purchased for one’s new home. Cotton bedsheets, comforters, dohars and pillow covers are all excellent solutions to the vagaries of the Indian weather. The fabric does not overheat nor freeze in cold weather and offers good heat conduction. Besides, cotton is easy to wash and maintain, and has a hard-wearing quality that makes it last despite years of use.

At Spaces, we believe in offering our patrons the same care, innovation and eye for detail in our bed linen products, the way women weavers and fabric artisans do. Reflective of their ethos, we offer a wide range of bedsheets, matching pillowcases, comforter and dohar in ethnic prints, as well as floral and geometric motifs. You could say it is our tribute to their untiring effort to present the best of Indian weaving to the country and the world.

With the same spirit that runs through our offerings as that of the dynamic women weavers of India, Spaces offers a wide range of bed linen products to adorn your home. Trust us to help you makeover your house with the choicest picks in bedding and bath linen. All woven with the promise of innovation and high quality for years to come.