Safar

Weaving | Reimagining | Storytelling

Safar is a textile design project that draws inspiration from the vibrant, expressive world of truck art, giving it a new medium that can be touched, worn and experienced.

Brief

Take inspiration from your surrounding and make two weaving samples with two different looms.

Mood board

Story

Bold

Motifs

Emotion

Travel

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Inspiration

Project highlight

Truck art is a cultural and art form prevalent across South Asia, especially in India and Pakistan. Truck art is not only a form of decoration but also an expression of identity and storytelling, painted on trucks that travel thousands of miles. These vehicles are canvases, each adorned with intricate patterns, colorful motifs, and typeface.

Mood board

Concept Building

Material and color study

Frame loom weaving

Weave Plan

Handloom weaving

Tassel

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Material

Culture

Emotion

Flower

The aim is to convey the meaning and the story behind Truck art through the use of motifs (Flower) and colors in both samples. One sample is woven on a Handloom, while the other is woven on a frame loom.

Ideations

Sample (Handloom)

Truck art is a form of folk art that tells the story of the driver. It's a way for them to express themselves and remember their family and hometown through the visuals and decoration. The bright colors are a reflection of their happy memories, dreams, hobbies, and the strong bond they share with their truck.

The materials used for this is wool, cotton, and chindi. Using simple weaving techniques, flowers are crafted with the help of needle, and tassels are added to the sides, giving the piece the same structure you’d find on a truck.

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Sample (Frame loom)

In this sample, I wanted to capture the journey of a driver, filled with both struggles and moments of beauty. The road is never smooth, and I’ve tried to show this contrast by representing the rough, bumpy paths they travel on, followed by the colors that symbolize the peaceful, familiar feeling of home. This shift from hardship to comfort mirrors the emotional highs and lows of a driver.

Using nylon warp for flexibility and copper and zari thread weft for warmth, it reflects the strength and resilience needed for the journey.