India’s First TC2 Loom at Srishti Manipal Institute
by admin
This year marked an important milestone for us in India – the first TC2 loom was delivered to the Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore. And our representative Anita Michaluszko was there to guide them through the process of installation and training on the loom. Anita tells us more…
For Professor Swati Maskeri, who has been teaching and heading the department of Textiles at the Srishti Manipal Institute since July 1999, the TC2 is an ideal addition. “It offers a way for students to explore what weaving could be in the contemporary context,” she explains. Her vision is to connect the worlds of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, in pursuit of culturally rich and forward-thinking textile practices.
The institute itself is located on an expansive campus that brings together diverse disciplines. As you step into the art and design area, there is a noticeable change of vibe – one slows down and starts to look around. It’s a space alive with creativity, with sculptures from student workshops, murals telling local stories, and temporary exhibitions of artworks.
In the textile workshop, students develop their projects on a variety of shaft looms under the guidance of design lecturers and master weavers – Hanumanth Appa and Chandrashekhar. For the TC2 workshop, the warp was prepared using locally sourced yarn, which was naturally dyed. The TC2 loom was installed in a specially-allocated studio space. Please follow this link to view a video of the 4-day installation and training process.
The training session started off by making Jacquard designs in Photoshop and then comparing these with another professional weaving software. Each approach revealed its own strengths. The workshop moved from shaded structures to more complex techniques like double weaves and multiple layers.
Participants for the workshop included Swati Maskeri, Kumar KJ, Prachi Mehrotra, Meghana Singh, Karthika Sakthivel, and two master weavers (names to be confirmed). Everyone took turns weaving on the loom. And as they proceeded, ideas began to flow — on how the TC2 could be used for their own practice, for teaching and future collaborations.
A special highlight of the visit was a trip to the Yelahanka Weavers’ Colony, where dyeing, warping, and weaving take place in adjoining houses. Master weaver Mehboob was seen working on an exquisite brocade silk sari, his skilled hands moving with grace. The pit loom setup allows the weaver to sit with legs beneath ground level, accommodating the shafts and jacquard head even in low-ceilinged rooms.
Next door, industrial looms were busy weaving vibrant saris made from both natural and synthetic fibres. The cut fil coupé threads that form the motif seen in the picture (below, to the left) are concealed underneath the sari when it is draped. What appears on the outside is, in fact, the reverse side of the fabric as it was woven. On one loom, Lady Shashi Kala wove a red and golden sari using jacquard punch cards. Traditionally, such saris were woven with real gold threads, a practice still alive today for ceremonial occasions.
In day-to-day life, women in India often wear long and colourful tunics called kurta for comfort, but they also wear saris. During festive occasions though, the sari is often paired with rich jewellery. A particularly beautiful moment was seeing a young girl in traditional attire, modelling in Bangalore’s Cubbon Park (styled by @lakshmi._.makeupandhair_artist).
Visiting India was a truly colourful and enriching experience. I am deeply grateful to everyone who welcomed me so warmly, including our trade partner Bakubhai Ambalal for their collaboration and company. And also thanks to everyone who generously shared their favourite local places and dishes with me!
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