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The youngest student in the class of 2009, Halimabai was born in Tankanasar. She is the second of four children, three brothers and herself. Her father makes charcoal. Her mother embroiders for Kala Raksha. Halimabai’s grandmother’s dargah is in Jura village. She has traveled up to Haji Pir, but not outside Kutch. Halimabai studied to fourth grade, but had a bad experience. She recalls how the teacher hit the girls. A year ago, after leaving school, she learned embroidery from her mother. She has embroidered for Kala Raksha since, but has not yet done her own work because she doesn’t know all of the stitches yet. (She still has to learn the white outlining.)

“I liked the colour wheel. I Learned how to use colours.”

Halimabai feels that traditional embroidery is good embroidery. Today, embroidery is also livelihood. “Making charcoal is hard work,” she says. If she has to do too much manual labour she gets a fever. ... Show more

The youngest student in the class of 2009, Halimabai was born in Tankanasar. She is the second of four children, three brothers and herself. Her father makes charcoal. Her mother embroiders for Kala Raksha. Halimabai’s grandmother’s dargah is in Jura village. She has traveled up to Haji Pir, but not outside Kutch. Halimabai studied to fourth grade, but had a bad experience. She recalls how the teacher hit the girls. A year ago, after leaving school, she learned embroidery from her mother. She has embroidered for Kala Raksha since, but has not yet done her own work because she doesn’t know all of the stitches yet. (She still has to learn the white outlining.)

“I liked the colour wheel. I Learned how to use colours.”

Halimabai feels that traditional embroidery is good embroidery. Today, embroidery is also livelihood. “Making charcoal is hard work,” she says. If she has to do too much manual labour she gets a fever. “We can do embroidery when we are free and comfortable,” she says. About the future of embroidery, Halimabai believes that if artisans continue to embroider, it will increase. It is their decision. In the Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya course, she expects to learn design and Gujarati. Her dream was only to finish the course.

In 2009, Halimabai attended Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya. She was one of the first members of her community to study, and our youngest student yet.

Halimabai presented her collection of women’s garments with the theme “Colourful umbrella”- the end of a long road. She impressed the jury with her clear articulation and quiet confidence.
Halimabai graduated, with pride of the whole community.
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Halimabai Noormamed Jat'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