Current State

‘The goddess Laxmi is wearing a garment so thin and fine … it shows her limbs … as if she is coming out of it’, – Banabhatta, Indian poet in the court of King Harsha Vardhana, 7th-century.

Globally many countries claim to be producing muslin for a variety of purposes.  From India to China and USA, muslin exists from industrially woven, fine and plain cotton cloth.

The revival of muslin as Jamdani has continued and the latter is widely available, especially in Bangladesh.  In 2013, UNESCO declared Bangladesh’s Jamdani as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  This can be attributed to the determined and passionate campaigns undertaken by Ruby Ghuznavi, Monira Emdad, Aarong, and others, for the revival and recognition of the craft of Jamdani in Bangladesh.  However, the Jamdanis of the late 20th century are rarely high count cotton, often half-silk and sometimes 100% silk.  Although these Jamdanis are very beautiful and intricate they are not the same as past muslin.  Through its pioneering work, Bengal Muslin has revived the high count fine weaving and is attempting to do much more.

Join us in this exquisite and informative journey.