Rallis and ralli makers are intimately tied to their home communities in Pakistan and India
Rallis and ralli makers are intimately tied to their home communities in Pakistan and India
Making a ralli requires a wide range of skills, using both head and hands
Ralli makers see their quilts holistically, as objects that will have multiple lives and uses
Rallis are rooted in tradition but are also evolving with the times
... quilts that come from the ancient lands of the Indus Valley. They have been used by countless millions over the centuries as useful bedding and also a way to express cultural and community identity. Much of their home region of southeastern Pakistan and western India is dry with little color. The rallis are a brilliant contrast to this setting. Women make them for their families using simple tools with great skill. The makers' creativity is apparent in the designs, colors, and embellishments of the quilts. Despite generations of unbroken ralli tradition, change is happening with their composition, design, and use.
Here is the story of the rallis of South Asia.
 Ralli quilts reflect the lives of their makers as well as each individual community in which they were made. |
 Often using the simplest of tools, ralli makers use their well-honed skills to fashion fabric into objects of beauty. |
 Inspired by the world around them, quiltmakers creatively build upon centuries of ralli tradition. |
 The history of ralli quilts flows from ancient to modern times and ralli makers evolve with the changing currents around them. |