Pakistan’s First Textile Museum: Stories Woven in Cloth

Pakistan's first textile museum celebrates the nation's rich heritage through fabric. It showcases centuries-old textile traditions, weaving stories of culture, craftsmanship, and history. Visitors can explore intricate designs, traditional techniques, and the evolution of textiles, offering a glimpse into the artistry that defines Pakistan's identity. This museum preserves and honors the legacy of artisans while educating future generations about the cultural significance of textiles in shaping Pakistan’s history and traditions.

Nasreen and Hasan Askari have launched a museum in Karachi, featuring her extensive collection of nearly 1,000 centuries-old textiles from a region historically known as a trade crossroads.

In the 1970s, as a medical student in Pakistan, Nasreen encountered an experience that profoundly influenced her. A patient’s mother, frustrated by routine questions, revealed the answers through the intricate embroidery of her shawl, which detailed her life story, community, marital status, and children.

The encounter introduced Nasreen to the rich textile traditions of Sindh, igniting a lifelong fascination with the narratives woven into these fabrics. Over decades, her passion led her to amass an unparalleled collection of Sindhi textiles that preserve cultural and historical tales.

Today, this collection forms the foundation of Pakistan’s first textile museum, which the couple inaugurated in December. Their goal is to inspire visitors to appreciate and engage with Pakistan’s artistic heritage.

Sindh’s textile heritage dates back to the ancient Indus Valley civilization and reflects influences from across Asia due to the region's role as a trade hub. These fabrics, often crafted on handlooms and dyed naturally, continue to be produced by small rural and nomadic communities, preserving age-old traditions despite modern pressures.

Nasreen, who splits her time between Pakistan and the UK, gained recognition for promoting Pakistan’s textile heritage in 1997 when she curated the successful "Colours of the Indus" exhibit at the V&A Museum. Though she initially considered donating her collection to the V&A, she decided to create a museum in Sindh to honor and share the heritage locally.

The museum, named Haveli, houses five galleries displaying diverse embroidery pieces from remote parts of Pakistan. These include ceremonial cloths, dowry purses, and vibrant camel adornments, offering insights into the region’s unique textile artistry.

The inaugural exhibit, “A Coat of Many Colours,” highlights the significant contributions of Sindh’s minority Hindu communities to its textile traditions. Despite their dwindling population due to intolerance, their influence on Sindh’s rich heritage remains undeniable.

Hasan and Nasreen aim to deliver a message of unity through the museum, emphasizing the shared artistry that transcends religious and sectarian divides. Their vision extends beyond showcasing crafts; it’s about celebrating collective human achievement and the enduring legacy of these textiles.

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Source: theguardian‍