'F1' sheds light on India's forgotten Tangaliya craft; sales surging on e-commerce platforms

F1, the new Hollywood movie, is now a rave all across the world, and so too in India. Actor Brad Pitt's charisma and his idiosyncratic gestures are already part of the hype associated with the movie. The latest focus on the blockbuster movie is over a scene where Pitt’s character walks through the pit lane. In this scene, Pitt retained his charm wearing an Indigo shirt that was embellished with traditional motifs. After much deliberation and discussion, fans found that it was indeed the revered Tangaliya shirts, associated with India’s Gujarat.

Designer Julian Day picked up the 700-year-old celebrated Tangaliya craft to bring more simplicity to Pitt’s character. Tangaliya is a handloom weaving technique having roots in Surendranagar and Kachchh districts in Gujarat. The dotting pattern and the bead-like motifs are the uniqueness associated with the craft. Tangaliya refers to the white dots worn by the shepherding community women in erstwhile Gujarat.

To create Tangalia is wearisome and requires a meticulous work ethic as it is mostly woven using hand. The warp patterns and the parabolic motifs are delicate and not something to be heedless with. Pitt’s Tangaliya shirts have already made many go crazy over India’s traditional craft, as sales are surging through e-commerce platforms.

As per a new study, only 12 per cent of Tangaliya artisans are below 30 years of age, while there is a dwindling interest in this craft among youngsters from the same weaving clan. Nonetheless, F1 has put the spotlight back on a forgotten craft, and there remains hope about an economic revival on the cards for the shirts, which are Gujarat’s finest.