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Lachhuben Raja learned embroidery in the traditional way, from her family in Viyar. When she moved to Vandh after marriage she became known as an expert artisan while working in the conventional Rabari way.

When economics made two incomes essential, Lachhuben tried several options. The fourth, Kala Raksha, was the one that satisfied cultural as well as economic needs. Lachhuben has served as Coordinator for Kala Raksha since 1994. She attends design, quality control and pricing for the group in Vandh. Lachhuben is both teacher and cultural mediator, and has traveled many times to Delhi and Mumbai to assist in marketing. She has also attended three international workshops through Dastkar,and taught Rabari traditions to students at the American Embassy School in Delhi.

In 2003, Lachhuben traveled to Australia to represent the exhibition “Resurgence” and teach a week long workshop on Rabari embroidery at the Fabric Forum in Mittagong. In 2004, she ... Show more

Lachhuben Raja learned embroidery in the traditional way, from her family in Viyar. When she moved to Vandh after marriage she became known as an expert artisan while working in the conventional Rabari way.

When economics made two incomes essential, Lachhuben tried several options. The fourth, Kala Raksha, was the one that satisfied cultural as well as economic needs. Lachhuben has served as Coordinator for Kala Raksha since 1994. She attends design, quality control and pricing for the group in Vandh. Lachhuben is both teacher and cultural mediator, and has traveled many times to Delhi and Mumbai to assist in marketing. She has also attended three international workshops through Dastkar,and taught Rabari traditions to students at the American Embassy School in Delhi.

In 2003, Lachhuben traveled to Australia to represent the exhibition “Resurgence” and teach a week long workshop on Rabari embroidery at the Fabric Forum in Mittagong. In 2004, she attended a month long tour of the United States, teaching at the Fabric Workshop, Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania Museum, the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council, Colorado College, and the Pacific Northwest Needle Arts Guild. She also attended the first International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, trunk shows in Seattle and Boston, and visited the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2005, she spent 10 days in New York City representing Kala Raksha for an Eileen Fisher special event. Currently, Lachhuben serves as Advisor for Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya. Show less

Lachhuben Raja's Featured Product

Kala Raksha Trust, a grassroots social enterprise, is dedicated to preservation of traditional arts. We envision this broadly, as holistic encouraging of the creative capacity of the artist. Comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design and museums, Kala Raksha was founded on artisan initiative in 1993 in the desert region Kutch, in India. Uniquely committed to documenting existing traditions, the Trust maintains a collection of heirloom textiles housed as a local Museum. Artisans participated in establishing this Museum. Thus it embodies a simple but revolutionary concept: involve people in presenting their own cultures. Artisan initiative and participation continue to be the ... Show more

Kala Raksha Trust, a grassroots social enterprise, is dedicated to preservation of traditional arts. We envision this broadly, as holistic encouraging of the creative capacity of the artist. Comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design and museums, Kala Raksha was founded on artisan initiative in 1993 in the desert region Kutch, in India. Uniquely committed to documenting existing traditions, the Trust maintains a collection of heirloom textiles housed as a local Museum. Artisans participated in establishing this Museum. Thus it embodies a simple but revolutionary concept: involve people in presenting their own cultures. Artisan initiative and participation continue to be the pillars of Kala Raksha's work. Artisan Design Committees create exquisite contemporary work based in their traditions. Artisan Pricing Committees establish fair wages. Finally, artisans participate in sale of their work, linking them directly to their market. What Kala Raksha preserves is the essence of art. Traditions are preserved when they flourish. Show less