L U X U RIO U S A B S TRA C TIO N : M OTI F A N D D E S I G N I N K U T C H C O U RT E M B ROID E R Y Jim Masselos – TAASA Review March 2013

A mong the finest achievements in India’s textile tradition is embroidery from the former princely state of Cutch, Kutch or Kachchh as it was officially spelt after independence.

Embroidery was ­ and still is ­ commonly practised in small towns and villages in this northwestern region where women work at their embroidery in odd spare moments, creating items that are vigorous, full of energy and characteristically of Kutch.

Paralleling such distinctive praxis were other customary embroidery styles, in particular embroidery patronised by the royal court in the capital city of Bhuj before independence in1947...