Beadweaving (Motibharat) is a traditional art of Gujarat. Dating back to thousands of years, this is a strong living tradition practised by numerous communities in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
It is practised in Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Vadodara together with many tribal communities like Rathwa, Bhils of Chhota Udaipur, and Panchmahal districts.
Numerous items like wall hangings (torans), key chains, purses, table mats, vase coverings, bracelets, anklets, armlets, earrings, headbands are made from beads.
These art pieces are used to decorate Saurashtra’s durbar halls and Rajput houses.
Beadweaver Nayna Chhatralia who hails from Saurashtra conducted workshops at Brent museum

Gujarati traditional attire is well known internationally. The dress is styled with vibrant colour and intricate embroidery work. The impeccable designs of Kutch embroidery is a tribute to Rabaris, a nomadic tribe that crafted the art of Kutch embroidery
Kutch embroidery is mainly done in colours such as Green, Ivory, Indigo, Black, Deep red, Yellow, and Off-White. This embroidery is also influenced by romantic motifs as well as patterns of human figurines in dancing poses and dancing peacocks too. A lot of motifs are also inspired by Persian and Mughal arts that are inspired by animals.

Children enjoyed working to decorate Garba costumes and learned this craft tradition. 

Block Printing is another traditional fabric printing technique of Gujarat. It is done with superbly carved wooden blocks of various patterns. Gujarati hand block prints are captivating with their bright colours. This art of hand block printing is passed from one generation to another. Block printing thrives in Kutch where traditional artisans still keep this practice alive.

Motifs vary from geometrical to different types of floral designs as well as birds, animals, dancing girls, musicians, mango patterns. The other well-known centres for block printing in Gujarat are Bhavnagar, Vasna, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Jetpur and Porbandar.

Jigisha Patel and Sheena Patel conducted workshops at the Brent museum.

For this workshop women from London joined in Brent Museum.

For the mirror embroidery, known as sheesha and abhala-bharat embroidery,  Gujarati women took inspiration from romantic, architectural, human motifs as well as Persian and Mughal art. Small pieces of mirrors cut in round or diamond shapes are hand-stitched with bright-coloured thread to decorate all kinds of dresses, Chaniya Choli, blouses, bed sheets, table cloth, wall hangings, handbags.  Vibrant colours, mirrors, flowers, birds, peacocks, elephants, and dancers – all form part of the rich tradition of Gujarati embroidery.

Intricate mirror embroidery work has gathered attention in the modern world for its intricate pattern and aesthetic perfection. Therefore today one can find these creations embellished in contemporary dresses as well as in traditional outfits. Workshop led by Priya Patel.