Vimor Museum of Living Textiles: A Destination for Handloom Enthusiasts
The autorickshaw sputtered to a stop in a quiet bylane in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru. At the end of the cul-de-sac is a red brick building with white trimmings. As we approached the building a car dropped a woman in a rust-coloured sari, a man in a vermillion kurta and a black labrador in front of the building. Seeing us looking a little lost they asked us what we were looking for. When they heard that our intended destination was the Museum of Living Textiles, they enthusiastically asked us to wait while they opened it up for us. We learned that the woman was Pavithra Muddaya and that this building was her house. As the dog barked and sniffed around our feet curiously, Muddaya’s son led us to the back of the house where we climbed a flight of stairs to reach the museum.
The first thing we saw was a large handloom beside a spinning wheel alongside some smaller looms showing partially woven fabrics. Floor-to-ceiling glass cases containing sarees are lit up to show the details in the patterns of the fabric. The collection includes saris and other wearable textiles, a camel covering and bed linens from around the country. Muddaya’s son left us to wander around the room, occasionally jumping in with interesting facts not mentioned in the descriptions displayed beside each piece.
The conversation was nearly as interesting as the exhibit itself, as he shared tips on how to maintain silk saris and told us how the red carved tiles in the ceiling were from a demolished police station. Chatting with the owner and her son truly made the experience fulfilling as they shared stories about the museum, their work and the handloom industry in the country. The museum is a must-visit destination for textile enthusiasts.
The Museum is run by the Vimor Handloom Foundation which is associated with Vimor Handlooms which was established in 1974. According to the Foundation’s website, “Through the rich oral tradition of storytelling, the museum aims to preserve and hand down these stories to future generations to revive or even relive their grandmother’s legacy.”
