Description
6.30pm to 8.30PM on MONDAY 29 JUNE 2026
A PRESENTATION & LIVE DRESSING EVENT
Sufiyan and his family have been practicing the traditional skill of hand block Ajrakh print for 10 generations. With only 7 artisans involved in the folk art a decade ago, today they are working with about 140 craftsmen of printers and dyers. Sufiyan works with many established names such as the Cloth House, Dosa Inc, Pero, Andrew Wells, Simon Marks, House of Anita Dongre, Brass Tacks, Christa Michel, Maiwa, Nimai Nitai and Good Earth.
The craft of Ajrakh hand–block printing and natural dyeing is more than 4000 years old and is practiced by Khatri community of Kutch and Sindh. Ajrakh textiles are distinguished by jewel-like colors and geometric, floral and architectural patterns. The cloth is made in a 16-step process and requires a high level of skill and concentration.
Sufiyan has conducted workshops in many parts of the world such as at Kyoto University, Japan, Metropolitan Museum of Arts, New York, The Kokan Festival, Uzbekistan and the Luzern Art University, Switzerland. He received UNESCO Awards in 2008 and 2012.
In addition to the presentation and question time with Sufiyan, he will dress himself in a variety of lengths of unsewn Ajrakh cloths to demonstrate the way 2-dimensional textiles can be transformed into 3-dimensions by draping and tying them onto the human body.
Original blockprinted cloths by Sufiyan and his family from the School’s collection will be on display for close observation, together with other exmples of textiles from Kutch.
VENUE: THE SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL DRESS
52 LAMBETH ROAD
LONDON SE1 7PP
UK
Refreshments will be served.
Tickets – £20
