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Tejuben was born in Dhaneti and as a child migrated in Kutch, spending all but a few months of the rainy season wandering with the flock and a few pack camels, setting up rudimentary camps. Tejuben never attended school, but learned embroidery from her sister at age 11. Widowed at an early age, she began to do whatever manual labour was available with several other women of the village. She practiced the highly refined traditional embroidery until it was banned by the community elders in 1995. In 1998, Tejuben began to embroider with Kala Raksha. She feels sad at the loss of their rich tradition, but is happy to have the opportunity to embroidery commercially. Embroidery fulfills her, Tejuben says.

In 2007, Tejuben studied design at Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya. She learned to manipulate elements of her work, to think of the market and make a collection.
Tejuben’s final collection of bed linen with the theme of the sea was imaginatively embroidered with in ... Show more

Tejuben was born in Dhaneti and as a child migrated in Kutch, spending all but a few months of the rainy season wandering with the flock and a few pack camels, setting up rudimentary camps. Tejuben never attended school, but learned embroidery from her sister at age 11. Widowed at an early age, she began to do whatever manual labour was available with several other women of the village. She practiced the highly refined traditional embroidery until it was banned by the community elders in 1995. In 1998, Tejuben began to embroider with Kala Raksha. She feels sad at the loss of their rich tradition, but is happy to have the opportunity to embroidery commercially. Embroidery fulfills her, Tejuben says.

In 2007, Tejuben studied design at Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya. She learned to manipulate elements of her work, to think of the market and make a collection.
Tejuben’s final collection of bed linen with the theme of the sea was imaginatively embroidered with in traditional style applied to unique motifs.
She presented the range with confidence, and shared the award for Best Collection!

Today, Tejuben works as a designer at Kala Raksha, and a mentor at KRV.



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Tejuben Soma Rabari'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