The craft

Patchwork

Many pieces, one new whole. Patchwork is the original upcycling.

WhereGujarat, Rajasthan, Sindh
Made fromFabric offcuts
SpiritNothing goes to waste

Where it comes from

Across western India, women have long joined leftover fabric into quilts. Ralli quilts from Sindh, Gujarat and Rajasthan are the best known: bold geometric patchwork, quilted by hand.

How it’s made

Pieces are sorted by colour and size, cut to shape and stitched together into a top. That top is often layered and quilted, sometimes with kantha stitching running across it.

Care

Gentle cold wash. Dry in shade.

The hands behind it

Rekha Parmar

Patchwork Artisan · Gujarat · Rajasthan
Rekha believes every fabric has another story waiting to be told. She brings together different textures, colours and patterns, creating beautiful compositions from individual pieces.
Noor Bano

Textile Patchworker · Gujarat · Rajasthan
Noor loves the creative freedom of patchwork. She enjoys finding unexpected colour combinations and turning leftover fabric into something beautiful and useful.
Ramesh Bhai

Patchwork Artisan · Gujarat · Rajasthan
Ramesh approaches patchwork like putting together a puzzle. Every fabric piece has its place, and he enjoys seeing different patterns form one harmonious design.