Vintage Banjara Textile Dress- The Mehicana

Vintage Banjara Textile Dress- The Mehicana

**THIS ITEM SHIPS FROM SRI LANKA- FLAT RATE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

The best thing about our business is creating something that we truly fall in love with to the point where it's very difficult to let go but we are happy when someone special gets to cherish such a treasured piece. 

This dress is a piece of art! Literally from shoulder to hem each of these beauties has spectacular character and detail. You will be a walking work of art.

The dress is made of vintage Banjara textiles from 20 to 50 years ago sewn back together to keep it's integrity as much as possible.

This Mehicana dress has a burgundy cotton back and a geometric embroidered front with mirror stitching. Please keep in mind that each dress is made of vintage textile so there are signs of wear and tears but that is the point of the make, we kept every imperfection to keep the history intact. 

ABOUT THE BANJARA 

Much has been written about the Banjara since they are so fascinating and their work so detailed and ornate.
    Banjaras were traditionally suppliers of bullock and salt merchants. The word Banjara is said to be derived from Sanskrit word vana chara (wanderers in jungle). The word Lambani or Lamani is derived from the Sanskrit word lavana (salt), which was the principal product they transported across the country.  The Banjara embroidery and tattooing are prized and also form a significant aspect of the Banjara identity.  Lambani women specialize in lepo embroidery which involves stitching pieces of mirror, decorative beads and coins onto clothes. The Sandur Lambani Embroidery is a type of textile embroidery unique to the tribe in Sanduru, Bellary district, Karnataka.
    Since they were transporters of goods such as salt, grains, firewood and cattle, during the 19th century, the British colonial authorities brought the community under the purview of Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. This curtailed their movement and created great poverty in the tribes. The stigma attached to this continued until 1952 when the Act was abolished by the newly independent India but they remained disenfranchised. Now a lot of Banjara are forced to stay in their one village or close to cities where they participate in the local workforce.

We are always striving to learn more and support their work as much as we can. Their vintage pieces should be treasured. We are told to never cut, or de-construct their textiles or embroidery and we hope we can also convey this to you.