Kalaraksha

The Kala Raksha project began in Kutch in 1991. It focused on a group of embroiderers in Sumrasar Sheikh, a village 25 km north of Bhuj. These people had migrated from Nagar Parkar in Sindh in 1972, bringing with them some fine traditional embroideries as well as their skills in suf and kharek embroidery styles. With generous support from patrons of traditional arts, a permanent collection of traditional embroideries was begun. A group of twenty artisans was organized and guided in producing suf embroidered items for sale.
In 1993, Kala Raksha was established as a registered society and trust. Comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design, rural management and museums, Kala Raksha today works with nearly 1,000 embroidery artisans of seven ethnic communities