Craft Name: Leheriya (Wave/striped tie-dye)

Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat

CRAFT
HISTORY

Leheriya is a traditional tie-and-dye technique from Rajasthan, named after leher, meaning “waves,” referring to its distinctive diagonal striped patterns. It originated in the 17th century and became closely associated with Rajput royalty, who wore Leheriya turbans during monsoons and festive seasons. The craft flourished in Jaipur and Jodhpur, where dyer communities developed intricate patterns through rolling, twisting, and tying the cloth before dyeing it in vibrant colours.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

  • Signature wave-like diagonal stripes
  • Created by twisting and tying fabric, not by printing

Received a
GI tag in 2023

COLOURS

  • Bright primaries and contrasting combos — reds, yellows, greens, indigos.

How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in making this craft?
A Leheriya piece takes 5–7 days, crafted by 1–2 dyer artisans in the process

MOTIFS

  • Diagonal wave stripes, zigzags, and banded colour sequencing.

RAW MATERIAL

  • Fabrics: cotton, silk, georgette
  • Dyes: indigo, ochre, madder, synthetic colours
  • Threads for fine tying, wooden slats for pleating

CRAFT MAKING PROCESS

The-Art-of-Zardozi

HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE LEHERIYA

  • Patterns are undyed lines, not surface-printed.
  • Lines are soft-edged, showing real dye penetration