Weaving Stories: Textiles, Fabrics, and Feminism in South India

Information Session: May 22nd, Monday at 10AM Padelford C101

This program is co-sponsored by English and the South Asia Center.

What is the relationship between textiles and technology, globalization and gabardine, or craftsmanship and class? The “Weaving Stories” program in South India seeks to answer such questions by focusing on Indian weavers who thread together creativity and artistry in sarees, carpets, clothing, and handicrafts, as well as the ways that weaving traditions are embedded in broader cultural, social, and global relationships.

We will look at the historical and contemporary significance of weaving from political statements made by Gandhi and his followers during the anti-colonial struggle for independence, and to the rallying cry for urban textile workers organizing for fair wages and safe working conditions. How did colonialism influence weaving? How do gender, sexuality, and class operate in these weaving spaces? What is the role of globalization in shaping this centuries-old craft?

By visiting weaving centers throughout South India as well as hands-on experiences and engagement with films, readings, and local Indian experts and activists, we will explore the textiles of South India, the women who weave, and the stories that accompany the history and culture of cloth.