Crafted by Hand, with Love
Dear miracle workers, this story is an ode to the quiet magic that you weave through the warmth of your homes from the corners of India.
The sense of touch is one that holds extreme value to us at Buna. Every fabric that we use has been carefully spun, woven and crafted by artisans who hold generations of knowledge and expertise of their craft. Their craft is not just one that narrates the story of Buna but also one that brings forth the legacy of crafts that have been passed on from generation to generation. From handspun and hand-woven muslin to Chanderi, Jamdani, linen, and our own up cycled fabric, our family of fabrics has grown over the years, all with the common link of made by hand. The fabrics imbibe the feeling of simple and slow living being eco friendly with low carbon footprint.
From the looms of Bengal
Buna found its birthplace in Burdwan, at a small craft cluster in the midst of the groves of West Bengal. Famed for its Jamdani hand weaving, we felt a natural connection to the place on our first visit, with the rhythmic Zen of the warp and weft on the looms. Here we met the age-old Jamdani fabric that instantly spoke to us with the finesse of the muslin textile that plays with motifs in its weave. Singular in their exquisiteness and beauty, Jamdani fabrics are acutely labor and time-intensive. Every small batch of fabric could take the craftsmen months to weave. Giving this traditional fabric a touch of Buna, we have experimented with motifs of birds and clouds in the weave to create something that remains unique to us in our contemporary silhouettes.
From the looms of Chander
The hand-woven breezy Chanderi fabric found its origin in its name-sharing town of Chander in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Its lightweight, soft texture is achieved by the interweaving of silk yarn and silver or gold threads of zari with fine cotton yarn, leaving us with a delicate sheer fabric with a subtle sheen. Built on a vision of self-reliance this region of weaving supplies most of the Chanderi fabric to not just India but also internationally. We have had a close association with this fabric since our inception and it continues to remain one of the strongest pillars in our family of fabrics.
From the lanes of Rajasthan
In the quiet lanes of Sanganer in the state of Rajasthan, we found a home to create our customised floral block prints with a variety of wood blocks and dyes. Working with some lovely pastel hues of greys, greens, lilacs and pale pinks, the artisanal community of Bagru and Sanganer brings life to our muslin and Chanderi fabrics with carefully carved block prints that leave an imprint of the Buna aesthetic on our fabrics. The beauty of the craft lies in the irregularities that each imprint brings to the surface as it is carefully positioned by hand to create prints that evoke a feeling of a breezy Spring afternoon.
From the corners of our studio
To minimise our waste generation, over the years we have collected our waste textiles to create upcycled fabrics that have look and feel that remains unique to Buna. The textile waste collection from our previous collections is cut into strips to make yarn and is then woven together to create fabrics that add a distinct character to the clothing and bring our family of fabrics together in one story.
Buna has put down its roots in the magical touch of the hand-woven, collection after collection. We continue to work with and support artisanal communities all over the country as they continue to support us in telling our story. To the wearers of Buna, every time you adorn a garment, you help us come closer to our goal of supporting Indian craft through contemporary design. We thank you for taking our story a step forward.