"The journey of CALICO : the ART of INDIAN VILLAGE FABRICS" (in Japanese) / text by Fumie Kobayashi / photo by Yayoi Arimoto / will be published soon from SHOGAKUKAN ....!
The universal work of textiles handed down in rural India. What began as an interest in learning more about them, led to repeated experimental production of textiles, learning from weavers and makers, working hand in hand, and before long, a part of CALICO's activities involved letting people know about the real, present-day Indian handmade textiles, not just about admiration or nostalgia.
Now, we have been given the opportunity to publish a book that serves as an interim report on this project.
"CALICO's Guide to Indian Handmade Fabrics" Shogakukan
Text: Fumie Kobayashi Photo: Yayoi Zaimoto
2300 yen + tax
B5 variant, 160 pages
For many people today, an Indian textile may just be a scrap of cloth that happens to appear before their very eyes, but behind it lies a constant stream of textile culture that we have long thirsted for.
Yayoi Arimoto, who has joined me in India on a number of occasions since 2018, captured on camera the journey I continued, guided by that sense of faint sound of water, and the handmade fabric production sites I had visited in India.
Yayoi's photographs have become a part of my own travel memories, but at the same time, I'm sure they will also be an invaluable shared experience for the many people who love Indian fabrics.
The editor in charge was Yoshiko Kasai of Shogakukan CODEX, who has worked on many books and guidebooks on crafts and folk art. She is also the editor of the "Mingei Textbook" series (Graphic-sha Publishing). It is no exaggeration to say that this book was born from Kasai's passion to widely convey crafts in an easy-to-understand way.
Rather than being a simple guidebook, this book is intended to introduce you to the world of Indian fabrics through the interests, perspectives, and travels of Calico Kobayashi.
Although what is depicted there is only a part of the vast forest that is Indian fabric, it would be my greatest hope if it could serve as a starting point for imagining the magnitude and abundance of this blessing.
Advance sales will begin on February 19th, and the book will be available in bookstores from February 24th.
Pre-orders are now being accepted at Rakuten Books.
https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/16596495/
You can also purchase from our online site.
The following is an introduction from Shogakukan.
----<Book Contents> A journey through beautiful Indian handmade fabrics In recent years, Indian handmade crafts, which are miraculously still in existence, have been gaining attention, overturning the image of Indian goods as "cheap and kitschy". This book focuses on textiles that are particularly popular among Indian handmade crafts, such as Khadi (hand-spun and hand-woven cotton). Fumie Kobayashi, one of the Japanese people who knows the current state of Indian handmade fabrics best, and who continues to make fabrics and clothes using traditional techniques with Indian artisans as the founder of CALICO: the ART of INDIAN VILLAGE FABRICS, will guide you through the deep forest of Indian fabrics that spreads across the vast land. Along with Kobayashi's writing, Yayoi Arimoto's photographs, which vividly capture the vibrant people, fabrics, and earth that weave the world of Indian handmade fabrics, will guide you on your journey. This book will tell you about the current state and greatness of Indian handmade fabrics: what kind of fabrics are made, in what places, by what people, and how they are made.
Editor's Recommendations
While Indian hand-dyed textiles are often discussed based on vintage items, this book is a valuable document that focuses on the "now". Why is it that such a time-consuming and labor-intensive job can continue as a livelihood in India today? This is a must-read book for fabric lovers, as you will want to touch the real thing as you learn about the fabrics and their backgrounds.
< View Table of Contents >
The language of Indian fabrics / Chapter 1: In search of Indian fabrics / Chapter 2: Indian fabrics that changed the world / Chapter 3: Indian handmade fabrics today 1: The people of Kutch 2: Return to natural materials 3: The age of identity / Chapter 4: The work of CALICO