Fabrics
Making better decisions involves considering more than just our own interests. Whether it's nurturing enduring relationships with suppliers and charitable organizations or empowering our employees, we're committed to prioritizing the well-being of our broader community over solely focusing on our company's interests. At Crow, our passion has always been around doing good in everyway and every end of our business, the core part of our business surrounds with using of handloom fabric and uplifting the community and the artisans, currently around 50+ looms produces for us which approximately uplift 250 people.
Making better decisions involves considering more than just our own interests. Whether it's nurturing enduring relationships with suppliers and charitable organizations or empowering our employees, we're committed to prioritizing the well-being of our broader community over solely focusing on our company's interests. At Crow, our passion has always been centered around doing good in every way and at every end of our business. The core aspect of our business revolves around the use of handloom fabric and uplifting the community and artisans. Currently, around 50+ looms produce for us, uplifting approximately 250 people.
"Choosing handloom fabric is our sustainable tradition"
Know About Handweaving
Weaving, a native practice in various Indian communities, involves an intensive and time - consuming handcrafted process traditionally done on a wooden loom. Setting up the loom itself takes over a day, each and every family member ( of the weaver ) contributes in the pre and post weaving processes. Using pedals and shuttle, the weaver interlaces the vertical warp threads with horizontal weft threads. This step requires a lot of skill and precision. This intricate process results in the creation of beautiful and unique handwoven textile that reflects the rich craftsmanship of the weaver.
Meet the community.
Weaving in India is an age-old tradition passed down through generations among the weaving communities like a cherished heirloom, becoming an integral part of their identity. Handloom textiles are woven using natural fibers which are eco friendly, long lasting and biodegradable, reducing landfill waste. The handmade process adds a personalized touch to the textile, making it special. Embracing weaving as a slow fashion concept celebrates and preserves India's rich heritage of traditional craft while empowering young craftsmen to innovate and carry the craft forward.
About Natural dyes
Natural dyeing is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for fabric dyeing using parts of plants, minerals, or instead of artificial chemicals. Colors are extracted from these natural sources by fermenting, boiling, soaking them. The fabric is then soaked in the dye solution until it absorbs the color. While natural dyeing can achieve a variety of colors, they generally have a softer and more subtle appearance compared to those produced by chemical dyes.
About Azo-free dyes
Azo free dyes are an environmentally conscious alternative to chemical dyes. The azo compounds present in the synthetic chemical dyes are not only toxic for the environment but pose a great threat to the health of workers at the textile industry. Using AZO-free dyes in textile production helps to ensure the safety and well-being of both consumers and workers. Additionally, it contributes to environmentally friendly practices by reducing the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment during the dyeing process.
About the weaving machine
The traditional loom, also known as the handloom, is a simple yet versatile device used for weaving textiles. Handlooms have been an integral part of India's textile heritage, dating back thousands of years. It typically consists of a wooden frame, with two vertical posts called beams, and horizontal bars called shafts or frames. The warp threads, which run vertically, are wound around one beam and attached to the other, while the weft threads, which run horizontally, are interlaced through the warp threads to create the fabric. Handlooms come in various types, such as pit looms, frame looms, and backstrap looms, each suited to different weaving techniques and styles.
History
Block printing has been practiced in India for centuries, with evidence of its existence dating back to ancient times. Historical records suggest that block printing was prevalent in India as early as the 12th century, particularly in regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat. Over the centuries, Indian artisans have refined and perfected the technique, passing down their knowledge through generations. Today, block printing continues to be an integral part of India's rich cultural heritage and textile traditions.
About hand block printing
Block printing is a traditional fabric printing technique used to embellish the fabric with vibrant colors and beautiful motifs. It’s a labor and precision intensive technique. Block printing utilizes various dyes, including natural, AZO-free, or pigment dyes. A carved wooden block is dipped into dye, then pressed onto the fabric, transferring the pattern. Block printing is done by hand making each textile unique.
Block making
The traditional process of block making begins with a block of seasoned wood, upon which the artisans carefully sketch their design and with the help of chisels carve out the areas that are not to be imprinted on the fabric. Once the blocks are ready, the carved surfaces are covered in dyes, which are to be applied on the fabric. Number of colors in a design decides the number of blocks to be used. Each block is made by hand, thus making it one of a kind.
Hand knitting
Hand knitting is a traditional method of creating fabric or garments using knitting needles and yarn. In hand knitting, loops of yarn are interlocked to form stitches, which are then combined to create various patterns and textures. The process involves casting stitches onto the needle, then knitting each stitch to form rows of fabric. Hand knitting allows for endless creativity, as different types of stitches, yarns, and colors can be used to achieve unique designs. It's a versatile craft that can produce anything from simple scarves and blankets to intricate sweaters and lacework.
About organic cotton
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.Natural techniques such as crop rotation, composting, and biological pest control are employed to nurture soil health and manage pests. Furthermore, organic cotton production prioritizes water conservation and biodiversity to minimize environmental harm. Compared to conventional cotton, organic cotton is typically softer and less likely to cause skin irritation since it is free from chemical residues. Additionally, organic cotton farming improves working conditions for farmers and reduces their exposure to harmful chemicals. Opting for organic cotton products supports sustainable agricultural practices and contributes to the protection of both people and the environment.
Made to order
At World of Crow, we always continue to rethink traditional ways of doing things and try to improvise those ways in alignment to the requirements of the modern world. Since 2021, in order to avoid overconsumption and completely negate dead stock, we produce our garments as and only when we get their order.
Then after getting the order, the cloth is cut, stitched and hand finished. Then it is packaged in a bag made by the handicapped people of an organization that we work with.
"Choosing handloom fabric is our sustainable tradition”