The textile of Meghalaya has been the backbone of many households in the state. Ri Bhoi District is a hub of Eri silk weaving providing direct employment to women who are engaged in weaving and other activities. The Eri culture and weaving have remained part of the state's culture. Eri is the most respected fabric of the local tribal people of Meghalaya. From Queens and Kings to the everyday villager, Eri silk is the fabric worn with the most pride. It is observed that hundreds of villages raise these silkworms and have an Eri silk supply chain and its ecosystem at their core. Khneng embroidery of Mustoh village is the only form of embroidery available in the state which can be traced back to 200 years ago and is slowly dying. North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society NESFAS have been working closely with the community to strengthen the supply chain and most importantly, revive the Indigenous art form. Numerous social customs are still practiced in the Khasi
society that have their roots in their native tales and legends.
The objective of the project is to bring together the two traditions of the state entirely dependent on the skill and knowledge of the people with the story of "U Sier Lapalang" into textiles. Here, a conceptualized storytelling design is integrated into textiles which could potentially provide a meaning - full connection to the user; with
a mindful design approach. KINIHO Clothing, located in Shillong is a sustainable brand headed by Ms. Iba Mallai. Her expertise in Eri silk and understanding of the weaving community was helpful to the student from the early stage of the project to the final outcome.
Design Intervention, Eri silk Weaving, Khasi folktales, Khneng Embroidery, Meghalaya
