ABOUT CALICO

In the 17th and 18th centuries, both Europe and Japan were captivated by the lightweight and comfortable handwoven cotton fabric from India known as "calico."
Before the arrival and spread of calico, most Japanese people had no choice but to wear garments made of hemp or silk. It was the desire to create fabric as remarkable as calico using machines that eventually led to the invention of spinning machinery in Europe, sparking the Industrial Revolution. This marked a significant turning point in human history, compelling much of humankind to live amidst abundance in urban settings.
Even now, after the dawn of such an era, many villages across India continue to follow the timeless rhythms of "fabric time." The heartbeat of these villages is vividly expressed in the making of cloth—a vibrant counterpoint to convenience and uniformity, nurturing a rich individuality as the delicate skin of life itself.
CALICO is a name that represents an effort to preserve and celebrate the traditional methods practiced in Indian villages alongside local artisans. It is dedicated to crafting handwoven and handspun cotton (khadi), jamdani, kantha embroidery, ajrakh dyeing, and weaving using heirloom cotton and wool. These textiles, rooted in time-honored craftsmanship, are reimagined as contemporary traditions to be cherished and passed on to the future.
It is also a prayer—a call to restore the joy of touch long lost in our modern lives, to reclaim the culture of rich fabrics and clothing, and to create a new world of textiles that bridges our present with the future.

CALICO: the ART of INDIAN VILLAGE FABRICS

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