The colourful terrain of Kutch, Gujarat, is not only rich in natural beauty but also rich in its cultural tradition of embroidery. At the heart of saving and evolving this culture is none other than Pabiben Rabari, an enterprising artisan entrepreneur who has brought about a revolution in this field by creating an internationally recognised brand. 

By fighting against the odds of poverty and stringent rules of her community, she developed a unique technique of embroidery and started pabiben.com, one of the very first digital ventures of artisans of India run by women. Her masterpiece, the ‘Pabi Bag,’ has made waves both on the runway as well as in Hollywood films.

Who Is Pabiben Rabari?

Pabiben Rabari is a celebrated craftsperson and innovator belonging to the nomadic Dhebaria Rabari tribe in the Kutch region of Gujarat. 

  • Suffering from financial woes, she had to leave her schooling at the 4th standard to help her widowed mother. 

  • She learnt the craft of Rabari embroidery from her mother and grandmother. 

  • Currently, she enjoys worldwide recognition as a pioneer of rural entrepreneurship among Indian women by setting up a craftsperson-owned enterprise.

What Makes Pabiben Rabari's Work Unique?

The unique invention of her work is called 'Hari Jari', which she came up with to avoid the restriction of the traditional wedding embroidery put in place by the community. 

The restriction was imposed by the elders in the community because the long hours of hand embroidery were causing delays in marriages among young women. In order to maintain her cultural tradition despite the restrictions in the community, Pabiben adopted the use of machines along with ribbons.

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How Did She Build a Global Brand From Kutch Embroidery?

She began her journey with the formation of a collective of women artisans in her locality in 1998. With a vision to escape the exploitative practices of intermediaries and provide artisans with an opportunity to showcase their skills, she started pabiben.com, one of the earliest online platforms created by Indian artisans themselves. She built a sustainable business model that helps more than 300 rural women today earn a livelihood.

What Is the Story Behind the Pabi Bag?

The ‘Pabi Bag’ came about as a result of her early attempts with the Hari Jari process. With ribbons layered on a strong base of cotton, she created a bright, practical shopping bag that combined tradition with modernity in a single shot. 

This bag soon became a great success at various exhibitions and came to be known as the ‘Pabi Bag,’ which is now a big hit, appearing in both Bollywood and Hollywood films.

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Conclusion

The success story of Pabiben Rabari, who moved from a small village of Kutch to the international arena, clearly illustrates the fact that traditional Indian artistry is not just sustainable in the modern commercial world but also has immense scope for growth.

Image credits: Instagram

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