The Craft Traditions of Pakistan - Noorjehan Bilgrami

Noorjehan Bilgrami travelled the length and breadth of Pakistan, from the desert sands of Tharparkar to the remote mountainous regions of Baltistan in her search for the extraordinary crafts and craftsmen that give the country its magnificent living heritage. She visited secluded areas where age old methods are still practiced and the rhythms of everyday life are reflected in handicrafts of great beauty and value. 

The book is grounded in the environment as it acknowledges and explores the context in which each craft is practiced. The simple lives of the craftsmen, their devotion to their craft and the very texture and colour of their lives is illuminated by the accompanying text and a wealth of visual detail.

The Crafts of Pakistan is a timely book in that it documents a rich diversity of products and materials at a time when modernization and the machine made products it brings in its wake are threatening the very existence of the traditional crafts. The book highlights the need for urgent intervention to change this course and avert the danger posed to the craft heritage.

Noorjehan Bilgrami is an artist, textile designer and researcher. Her interest in traditional crafts led to the formation of KOEL in Karachi, an atelier that pioneered the revival of hand-block printed fabrics in Pakistan. She is one of the founders of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and was its first Executive Director.

Hardcover Edition

ISBN:9698987002