Gujaratstartups, SURAT: Textile connoisseurs in the city have a chance to witness the mystery and splendour of Gujarati textiles at the first ever exhibition to be held at the Garden Art Gallery at Sahara Darwaja here from February 5.

The Textile Heritage of Gujarat' (Gujarati Vastra Kala No Varso), Tapi Collection, showcases the artistry and skills of Gujarati artisans and the fabrics that travelled out to foreign shores as early as the 13th century.

A private collection of Praful Shah, chairman and managing director of the city-based Garden Silk Mills, and his wife Shilpa Shah, the exhibition will present a rare 700-year heritage of Gujarat's textiles right from the softest undyed muslins to the most luxurious brocades.

"The story of Gujarat's textiles begins with cultivation of cotton, spinning of cotton, weaving and adorning the surface with vivid and colourful patterns. Along with the artistry and skills of its artisans, the resourceful Gujarati entrepreneurial spirit took these textiles to foreign shores right from the time of the Romans. One of the earliest surviving Indian textiles can still be found in Egyptian port town of Fustat, an indigo fragment of a 15th century piece of cloth that travelled from Gujarat," said Praful Shah.

Praful and Shilpa launched their treasure hunt for the heritage Gujarati textiles some 20 years ago. "We had been to the Indonesian island to spend our holidays when someone told us about some fabric that looked very Indian. Since then our quest to find more about our heritage textiles began and it is not showing the sign of slowing," they added.

The collection on display are Gujarat's majestic Kinkhabs and Patolas, shimmering Mashrus, colourful bandhanis, vibrant embroideries, historic painted and block printed textiles, patchworked and beaded textiles.

Source: Times Of India