Rongali Jamdani Collection

The most common sound heard in the village of Kamrup in Assam is the 'click clack' of the loom to create this beautiful and exquisite Jamdani  fabric which has also been mentioned in the 'Ramayan' by Kautilya.  Traditionally woven as 'Mekhla Chador' this fabric is now woven in a variety of designs. 

Originally, a woman's weaving skills determined her eligibility for marriage which I think must have also been an indication of patience, dexterity and physical and emotional well being in order to be able to take care of a family. The story is that when a man went to war, he wore the clothing that had been woven overnight on the loom and it was considered inauspicious if the fabric was not ready by day break. 

Bihu is an important harvest festival for them and is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm for it's impact on crops and agriculture.

This collection reconnects us with our eastern roots and the wealth of our prehistoric memories , legends, mythology and history. The craft of extra weft weaving is being lost due to poor wages and availability of cheaper fabrics.

We, at Indie Cotton Route are trying to revive this Art by giving it the respect it deserves and preserving this rich culture and tradition which may get lost forever.

During the Pandemic, the situation has become more challenging for the weavers and it is our endeavor to support this craft by regularly working on more designs and collections and provide fair trade to help them carry on the tradition.

Hope you enjoy this collection 'Rongali' where we have tried to retain the purity and intrinsic nature of the textile while adding a touch of contemporary style for its relevance in today's time. The fabric feels good not only because it's like the nature's caress but touches the lives and livelihoods while we can appreciate the skill and hardwork gone into it as they are able to weave only 2 metres of fabric in a day!