This project explores Toda embroidery, a traditional textile art practiced by the Toda women of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. Characterized by red and black threads on a white cotton base, the embroidery creates a distinctive woven-like effect through hand stitching.
Rooted in cultural symbolism and storytelling, each motif reflects the community’s connection to nature and collective identity. The project highlights Toda embroidery as an endangered craft, aiming to preserve its authenticity while reinterpreting it within a contemporary design context. It celebrates heritage, ethical practice, and the continuity of handmade traditions.