Unknown Maker, Kutch

Elaborately patterned with geometric and floral designs, this ralli (patchwork quilt) was made by reverse appliquéing and piecing together new and used fabric scraps. As in other quilt-making communities, recycling old fabrics is integral to craft traditions in the Sindh and Kutch regions along the India-Pakistan border. Home to diverse Hindu and Muslim nomadic groups, this area has long been a space for the cross-cultural exchange of styles, motifs, and techniques. Derived from the local word rulanna, meaning to mix or connect, ralli designs show inspirations from many sources, including ancient Indus Valley Civilization pottery and quilting techniques introduced by American female missionaries in the late 1800s.

–Yukti Agarwal, Brown|RISD dual-degree student, BA/BFA 2024