As you drive out southwest of Jaipur, toward Bagru, away from urban city bustle, the bright sights and sounds fading into a wide expanse of rural farmland, fresh air, roaming herds of cattle, antelope, and camels, birds sweeping the sky – a sense of calm takes its place. It’s here, on the periphery, that you will find the workshop of Wabisabi Project – a studio devoted to preserving the legacy of traditional block printing and natural dyes. 

An exploration of henna pigment extraction during a natural dyes workshop with Ahmed in southern Morocco. Written by Maria Jose Gomez and photographed by Andrea Tamayo for Thread Caravan.

Ahmed lleva tres años tinturando con henna, un tinte natural que proviene del árbol de henna y que crece en el mismo lugar donde él nació, Zagora, en el sureste de Marruecos. Ahmed hoy en día vive cerca de Marrakech y aunque está lejos de su ciudad natal, de alguna forma fue acá donde se reconecto con su territorio, a partir del proceso de la tintura y la materialidad. 

In Santiago Niltepec, a quiet town in Oaxaca’s Isthmus region, indigo thrives under the intense sun, grown and processed using centuries-old, chemical-free methods. Visitors during the annual féria cultural del añil can witness the full dyeing process, from early morning harvests to fermentation in historic pilas. This experience offers a deeper connection to the rich heritage of indigo and the people who continue its tradition.

In Thread Caravan’s inaugural Crafts of Kutch experience, participants were fully immersed into the rich and storied craft traditions of Gujarat’s Kutch region, a land shaped by centuries of nomadic movements, trade, and artistic heritage. Over the course of eight days, we connected with master artisans and learned textile techniques through hands-on learning experiences. Below, we dive into the unique experiences included in the trip itinerary.

Nuestra compañera y colaboradora, María José Gomez, comparta sobre la biodiversidad y las plantas que se ocupan para fibras y tintes en su país, Colombia.

Artist and designer Christina Hattler of Mexchic introduces her investigation into the Pochote tree’s silky fiber and tannin-rich pod shells.