Braids of Joy (Craft of Camel Belt making utilizing Ply-Split Braiding)

The studio aimed to provide an opportunity to the students to associate with a rare craft tradition by holistically capturing and imbibing the nuances of various embodied aspects. The craft of Camel Belt Making is ancient and on the decline for its intended use. Practiced by craftsperson in the western desert region of India, the craft utilizes a lesser known, non-loom technique known as Ply-Split Braiding. The technique is kept alive, shared and celebrated for nearly 4 decades through Erroll’s works, which continues, now along with Shubhra. Following a step-by-step introduction (from fiber to finished product) for wholesome learning, students engaged in observation, research, visualizing, planning, organizing, and constructing combined with hands-on learning by doing experience. Encompassing the grandeurs and intricacies of the craft, as in the past, acting as a guide to Discover and Reinvent, the students keeping in mind the opportunities worked with different undefined constraints of the present times.