Bringing Jamdani to England

Photo journal 

What is ‘Bringing Jamdani to England’ about?
The project has secured 24 oral histories from older generation women who arrived in the 1960s and ‘70s in the London Borough of Merton. The project showcases the personal memories and textile heritage of each of the participants and an additional 11 chapters and interviews from the younger generation. A printed publication of the interviews were launched on 10th October alongside a multi-disciplinary online exhibition and a short film about the participants. ‘Bringing Jamdani to England’ has been led by Rifat Wahhab, written by textile historian Dr Sonia Ashmore and the exhibition curated by Saif Osmani. 
The project team welcome registered guests inside the museum building where once lascars and early seafarers arrived with goods from Bengal by the East India Company.

About Muslin Trust
Muslin Trust was set up in 2013 as a non-profit charitable organisation registered in the UK to protect, preserve and promote Bangladeshi heritage fabrics. This is the second of two major projects about Jamdani. Muslin Trust has previously participated in the Muslin Festival in Dhaka (2016). Jamdani means ‘flowered’ muslin (in Persian) and is a highly regarded heritage fabric still worn today as a sari in Bengal, Bangladesh and by the diaspora women from around the world. For further information about Muslin Trust visit: http://www.muslintrust.org