.believed to have the universe, or sky as its theme.

Blue
symbolizing the sky, red symbolizing twilight and the night
being indicated by black. The white geometric motifs
interspersed on the fabric are like stars on a dark night

Exploring and modernizing

the traditional Ajrak

Danish Khwaja
2007-1454

Aims & Objectives

To be familiar
with the history
of Ajrak and
the processes
involved in its
making and to
determine its
significance in
the culture and
traditions
of
Sind

Discover the other possibilities of making

an Ajrak incorporating new motifs, colors
and techniques into it

Give
it
a
contemporary
touch so as to
promote this
distinctive art
and bring it
into
the
mainstream.

Introduction

The Ajrak, a textile with dominant

shades of rich crimson and deep indigo
is a name derived from "Azrak,
which means blue in Arabic and
Persian.

Aaj Rakh (keep it today)

Sanskrit word a-jharat, meaning

something that does not fade.

The history of the

Ajrak can be traced
from the times of
the
ancient
civilizations of the
Indus
Valley,
around 2500BC to
1500BC. A bust of
the King Priest
excavated
at
Mohenjo-Daro
shows a shawl
believed to be an
Ajrak
draped
around
his
shoulders

The Ajrak is an essential part of the apparel

of a Sindhi person. Men use it as a turban, a
cummerbund and wound it around the
shoulders.

Women use it as a dupatta and chaddar, as

a shawl and sometimes as a makeshift
swing for children.

Ajrak in present time

Sindhi cap, ajrak presented to Shoaib,

Sania at Karacchi Airport
Updated at: 1802 PST, Thursday, April 22,
2010

On 20th May 2010 Thursday, Chinese

delegation visited KU and was honored by
traditional Ajrak

Traditional Methods
of making an Ajrak

Rationale

Contribution to my culture.

Context

This year, fashion

designer
Abdul
Samad showcased
soft folds of the
ethnic
fabric,
Ajrak, along with
some
other
designed outfits at
the
Pakistan
Fashion Week 2.

Noorjehan Bilgrami an
artist, textile designer
and
researcher
pioneered the revival
of hand block printed
fabrics in Pakistan.

Book Sindh jo Ajrak,

and
documentary
video, Sun, Fire, River,
Ajrak - Cloth from the
soil of Sindh.

Eco-friendly hand- block printing

practices are still being done in Bagru,
Rajasthan. Bagrus prints are epitome of
eco-friendly
textiles
and
printing
practices.

Research Design

The data will be collected from different

websites and books.

Further details
will
be
gathered from
real
life
experiences of
the people who
are involved in
Ajrak making
occupation.

Every aspect
will
be
photographed
and recorded
for
handy
references.

Methods
Various printing techniques will be used
Change of motifs, design layout and color
combinations will be tried out
Embellishments and embroidery will be
introduced

Outcomes

A contemporary form of Ajrak will be

achieved and will be brought to the
mainstream of contemporary society.

Contribution to the field of art

and design

According to Ustaad Haji Allah Dino, one

of the few Ajrak makers in Sindh
In the long run, if we want
Ajrak to survive, we need to bring
changes and make it more adaptable to
the modern times

Timeline
September-October
November
December

:
:
:

January-April

May

Research proposal
Visual Research
Motifs and Design
Layouts
Material
Exploration,
Experimentation
and Sampling
Final Product