Fabindia Dupatta
Magenta/orange silk
A dupatta is a women’s long scarf or shawl draped over the shoulders, head, or around the waist. It is an essential finishing/styling component of the traditional South Asian ensemble, salwar kameez, a tunic top paired with loose or fitted trousers. Dupattas are characterized by regional weaving techniques and embellishments, bringing distinct textures and weights to a salwar kameez outfit.
Dupattas also serve as a vital canvas for India’s rich textile history. This dupatta is a stunning example of the technique traditionally known as Bandhani or Bandhej, is an ancient resist-dyeing method that originated in the Indus Valley Civilization and still popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan .
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With Bandhani, artisans pinch, fold, and tightly bind sections of fabric into outlined desired patterns, like flowers, or waves, using thread. Often, small grains, seeds, or beads are tied inside the fabric to create distinct circular patterns. The fabric is then dipped into increasingly darker and more vibrant dyes. When untied, the bound areas retain the original fabric color, revealing highly intricate, dotted motifs.
Fabindia was founded in 1960 by John Bissell, an American who came to India on a Ford Foundation grant to help rural artisans preserve their textile traditions and export their work. Starting as an export house, it opened its first domestic retail store in New Delhi in 1976, eventually evolving into India's largest platform for handmade and sustainable traditional products.
Today, Fabindia boasts of nearly 357 stores across India and 13 international outlets.
Title: Dupatta
Date: 2008
Geography: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Medium: Silk
Dimensions: H. 88 in. W. 37 in.
Provenance: Fabindia, purchased in Ahmedabad, India
Inventory Number: IN.06
