Summer 2023 Field School Bangladesh- “Stories of Jamdani People and Places” July 10 to July 19, 2023

Dilruba Shuvra, a Ph.D. student at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP), University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, led a 10-day Field School in Bangladesh's Sonargaon area of Narayanganj District to document the local history and the cultural landscape of endangered Jamdani textile weaver’s community by collaborating with weavers from two villages, Borogaon and Kazipara capturing oral histories, mapping their homesteads and hosting hands-on workshops. On the banks of the Shitalakhwa River in Narayanganj district of Bangladesh, artisans have been producing the beautiful figured muslin fabric known as Jamdani for centuries. Jamdani is the last form of Dhakai Muslin that survived. The production of Dhakai muslin and later Jamdani has always been one of the major factors that influenced the lives and the settlement pattern of this area. The work of Field School Bangladesh has been showcased at the "Wearable Art, Jamdani Festival” from July 19 to July 29, 2023, at Chitrashala Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy contributing to Dhakai Jamdani's legacy revitalization and cultural preservation.

Partners | Participants | Collaborators

Dilruba Ferdous Shuvra (University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA), Grammo, Revival, Ethos, Tashnuva Rahman, Rehana Kawsher Trisha, Jannatul Fardous Meghla, Israt Jahan Ananna, Fatima Nujhat, Quaderi, ReeshamShahab, Tirtho, Moofer, Context.bd, Haal.Fashion, SHEVA, Daffodil International University, BRAC University, Bangladesh Open Source Network – BdOSN