Handicrafts are an important part of Gujarat people’s life. The handicraft and artistic variety of Gujarat reflects the richness of the state. The art of every part of Gujarat depicts the shadows of its culture, history, and heritage. Gujarat handicraft products are well known in India and around the world. Gujarat Handicrafts are the perfect combination of textures, patterns, mirror work, and stitches. It can vary from colorful painting to sophisticated wood antiques, with a mixture of vivid colors.

Let’s see some famous handicrafts of Gujarat representing the culture and traditions of Gujarat

Embroidery Handicraft of Gujarat

Gujarat’s embroidery handicraft ranks at the top of the list of tourists who visit the state for shopping. The unusual combination of designs, stitches, thread, shapes, and color make every piece look different. Gujarat’s embroidery work is one of the world’s best-known crafts. The Kutch region has the roots of this artwork. In India, foreigners like buying Gujarati costumes and artifacts. The weavers have a large variety of stitches and designs and adorable handicrafts. The herringbone is the most common stitching pattern. The handwork of Gujarat includes handbags, clothing, wallpapers, table mats, boots, and pillow cover.

Patola Saree of Patan

Gujarat is renowned for its world-famous Patola Silk Sarees, having vibrant colors,  weaved by mixing two threads that give the saree totally an ethnic look. It’s usually worn on auspicious and important occasions. Patola pattern is created by tying the western silk threads with great skill and precision, then dyeing with natural colors and weave them into the priceless fabric. Patola sarees have two varieties depending on their origin, one is Rajkot Patola and the other is Patan Patola. The main difference between both the varieties is Rajkot Patola is a single ikat weave and Patan Patola is a double ikat weave. To serve a wider audience, now patola shawls, scarves, and dupattas are also made.

Zari Embroidery – Handicraft of Gujarat

Zari embroidery is one of Gujarat’s oldest types of handicraft. Historians claim that the Zari practice began during the Mughal period. Zari was the favorite garment of the Mughal people and the weavers used it to further customize it with the Mughal glory’s motifs and designs. Surat city in Gujrat is the largest manufacturer of Zari Sarees & Zari’s products.

Zari is a decorative embroidery work on textile using different types of thread. In Indian bridal dresses, Zari work plays an important role. The shimmering threads are used to render sophisticated and elegant designs. The thread is available in three colors including gold, silver, and copper, all of which look stylish when used in embroidery. Famous local names given to types of Zari embroidery handicrafts of Gujarat are Kataoki Bel, Kamdani, Mina work, Makaish, Tilla or Maori work, Kinari, and Gota work.

Tangaliya Handicraft of Gujarat

Tangaliya is a famous handwoven textile skill in Gujarat especially found in Surendranagar. Tangaliya Gujarat handicraft is used for making shawls, dupatta, clothes, home decoratives, and other accessories. Vivid colors thread are used in weaving. Threads are knotted and woven in contrast forming a pattern of raised dots. The pattern is made more adorable by drawing other geometric designs around these lines. It takes a lot of hard work and technique, and once prepared, it gives an incredible look.

Bead Work

Gujarat’s other famous handicraft is beadwork, formed by beautifully joining 2-3 beads together. Gujarat’s beadwork is specially done on garments and home decor items. Beads are used in making various articles like hanging chaklas, Indhonis, Mangal Kalash, Nariyal objects, Necklaces, Bangles, Earrings, Ornaments, motifs, and Torans.  This Gujarati handicraft is produced mostly by tribal groups of  Dahod, Vadodara, and Panchmahals region. Beadwork of Gujarat is famous and liked across the country.

Block Printing

Block printing is another famous handicraft of Gujarat. It is a technique to manually print the textiles with wooden blocks. Printing is a method of adding colors to the fabric. In block printing, the required pattern is drawn on wooden blocks, then the blocks are dyed and then pressed down on the fabric to leave its design. Different blocks are used for the distinct color of the motif.

Vasna, a district of Gujarat is well-known for textile block printing Hand block printing of Vasna is renowned for ages.

Rogan Painting

Rogan Painting, created by the Khatris of the Kutch region, has the essence of India. Rogan, a special handicraft of village Niruna, near Bhuj, is a rare technique in which fabric is painted with an elaborate, embossed, and lacquered pattern. Rogan Painting was originated in Iran, used to craft from naturally colored stones. Now the Rogan painting is made by boiling the pigment in the castor for two days before it turns into a sticky gooey paste. The art of Gujarat is available in the form of wall hangings, tablecloths, curtains, sarees, and border skirts.

Rogan is a cloth painting technique, made of a dense, brightly colored, beaver-seeded oil. Handicraft employees bring a little amount of this paste onto their palm and the color is twisted in motifs and shapes using a metal rod at room temperature. This rod of metal would never touch the cloth. The artisan then folds the material, prints the mirror image thereby, creating a symmetrical pattern. Previously, the designs were rustic, but now weavers make sophisticated and elegant designs.

Lippan Art

The Mud and Mirror Work (a popular art in Kutch, Gujarat), is also known as Lippan Kaam. Lippan art is used to make interiors of the home cool.  This artwork is primarily confined to the inside walls but also used on the outside walls. The lippan walls bring liveliness, laughter, and elegance to Kutch people’s difficult lives. Mud and Mirror work is performed mostly by the Rabari women. The Rabari women are well skilled in this art form as before starting they do not require to draw or follow any pattern. Rabari is Kutch’s agricultural community, which lives near the villages. They live in communal or family houses that are known as Bhungas. This classic Gujarati handicraft work has gained popularity worldwide and now it has changed to the global art form because of the unique patterns.

Patchwork and Applique Craft

Patch and appliqué work are one of the oldest and most beautiful handicrafts of Gujarat. In order to create a multicolored fabric like a jigsaw puzzle, the art form uses numerous patches of the fabric of different colors and designs together. To make elegant, colorful quilts, wall hangings, linen, and garments, the work is used. Women have historically practiced this Gujarat handicraft all over the world. Some artisans made the finished product by mixing applique and patchwork together. The fusion of applique fabrics with the patchwork foundation does not sag or wrinkle.

Also Read : Famous Handicrafts of Rajasthan