"YEMENI cloth"

YEMENI cloth 

(Deoshree B,Mariona P,Vyomica P)


Cloth:Yemeni striped cloth

(WHERE):
Yemen is a Arab country located in western Asia. The majority of crafts in Yemen are utilitarian items such as, woven floor,coverings,blankets,decorative metal doors,hand guided machine embroidery on clothing,hand woven cloths etc.Yemen was known as "the Silent Kingdom" due to tightly controlled autocratic rule and sealed off from the outside world until recently. It is still possible to see
remnants of the former utilitarian craft-work which produced objects for everyday use.
(WHEN):
Before the arrival of the sewing machine, styles were almost universally “ghamis”styled garments made from local indigo dyed cotton cloth - or made from the famous Yemeni striped cloth which is no longer made. After the introduction of the sewing machine – about 60 years ago - regional variations appeared, a wider range of cloth became available and the hand guided embroidery machine facilitated new regional
patterns and designs to be developed.

(WHAT):
This Yemeni striped cloth was used for covering up the body of Prophet Mohammad,this was a tradition followed by the people.
(WHY):
In 1914 the Turks handed over control of Yemen to Imam Yahya who, succeed by his son and later his
grandson ruled Yemen until 1962. The Imam's reign was strict and autocratic and isolationist in the
extreme. During their time in office the internal unrest, tribal dislocations and insecurity of trade routes
caused a devastating blow to what was left of the cloth and weaving production. There remained only
small and insignificant production centers. These small pockets continued the traditional industry with
Imam Yahya supporting his private factory which was hand weaving the famous old striped cloth for use
by the royal family. This production was still producing a limited supply of the traditional textile into the
early 1980’s