Yali is a platform that hosts projects that develop from the research and documentation work undertaken at The Registry of Sarees.

This exhibition examines the ever evolving, dynamic and many identities of India as we know her today through the prism of the Hand Spun and the Hand Woven. Khadi (hand spun and hand woven) is widely recognised as the brand of our “Fabric of Freedom”. Yet, the very nature of cloth has changed to include socio-political, art-activist, life reflecting nuances. Tracing the design history of hand spun and hand woven, this show is an invitation to both reflect and celebrate how spun yarn continues to influence who we are in our ‘Indianness’.

The exhibition uses process, materiality and skill as a foundation to understand the journey of hand spun and hand woven between two principal design movements in post-colonial India : The Bauhaus Movement and The Festivals of India - Vishwakarma Exhibitions. Creating hand spun and handloom textiles is deeply engaging and personal and teaches us to honour diverse cultural identities. Through a unique diversity of design we are empowered to participate in the mastery of different craftsmanship involved in textile creation by hand. Above all there is magic in the soft simplicity of the base fabric that allows us to delight in the sheer mastery of the hand led by the heart!

By committing ourselves to research based production at Yali, we seek to re-align the relationship between weaver and wearer of handloom textiles.

The Yali is a mythical creature – part lion, part elephant and part horse. We are indeed, the sum of our individualities, our communities and our environment. Our team, our trusted stakeholders and you make all of this possible.

Team Yali,

July 2024