KARACHI: “I only know how to stitch and sew. I learnt my craft from my mother, grandmother and aunts. Earlier, I used to make pretty clothes for myself only but now I make them to sell and earn a decent income,” said Sakina who had come down from Shikarpur to showcase her pretty embroidery at the three-day 7th annual Sartyoon Sang Craft Exhibition 2020 organised by the Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO), which opened at the Ocean Mall here on Friday.

Sartyoon Sang is known to exhibit exquisite traditional crafts made by rural women artisans all over the country as well as abroad. These crafts include a variety of appliqué and embroidered shirts, dupattas, stoles, trousers, home textiles such as ralli quilts, bedspreads, cushion covers, tablecloths, mats, baskets, bags, purses etc.

The artisans responsible for making all these crafts were all present and proudly helping in item sales. The women were all dressed in traditional Sindhi attire with bangles up to the arms. Those who had difficulty in speaking Urdu had someone to translate for them.

Sakina said that earlier when she needed money for anything, she used to look to the menfolk in their home. “But now, not only do I supplement the family income, I am also there to support my father, brother or husband if they need any money. I know now what sells and what to create for the handicrafts market, too,” she said.

“There are artisans from all over the province here. Some of the handicrafts also are specially attributed to different cities. For instance, Larkana is more popular for appliqué work,” said Shahida Baloch, a senior master trainer with the SRSO. “Earlier, appliqué work was just used on the ralli, but now you see it also on shirts and dupatta,” she pointed out.

“Similarly, Sukkur is popular for patchwork, laces and crochet while Kashmore is well known for its khussas. In Kashmore, women do the embroidery on the footwear and the men stitch the footwear. Khairpur is known for bags, baskets and date-leaf products as Jacobabad is known for wheat-straw products such as the moora,” she said.

She also added that Sindhi artisans are also experts in Balochi embroidery and design. About her own self, she said that as a master trainer, she knew all crafts.

About the prices at the exhibition, one was informed that one could buy a Rs100 keychain to a Rs1,000 moora to a Rs25,000 ralli. “We have all kinds of handicrafts in various price ranges according to the quality and work. Just come and browse. You never know what treasure you may find,” said Zafar Ali, who had come down from Kashmore for the exhibition, which will remain open from 11am to 11pm on Saturday and Sunday, too.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020