Kutch, a drought-prone district in Gujarat State, India, is surrounded on two sides by salt marsh Rann and on the other two by the Arabian Sea. Consequently, Kutchis have always been culturally distinct and enterprising.
Until recently, a range of ethnic communities of Kutch wore traditional dress, distinguished by rich, elaborate hand made textiles. Artisans of the region were designers, producers as well as the marketers of these wonderful fabrics. They created world renowned extra weft wool weaving, intricate natural dyed hand block printed ajrakh, the finest bandhani (shibori), distinctive batik, and a dazzling range of mirrored embroideries and appliqué for both family members and neighbors, intimately known. They innovated organically, slowly, as their clients' lives evolved.