The Hands Behind Gul

Every piece at Gul has a name behind it. Not a factory. Not a label. A person, a family, a village, a lifetime of practice.

We travel to the source - to Kachchh, Bagru, Sanganer, Bhuj - and we sit with the people who make. We drink chai in their workshops. We watch their hands. We ask questions. And then we commission work that is worthy of what they know.

These are some of the families behind Gul.

🧵 The Khatri Family - Ajrakh Masters, Bhuj, Kachchh

Ajrakh block printing with master artisan

Region: Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat
Craft: Ajrakh block printing - natural dye, resist print, 16-step process
Practicing for: Generations. The current master learned at age 7.

“The block does not lie. If your hand shakes, the cloth knows. You must be still inside before you can print.”

What we commission: Ajrakh stoles, yardage for our signature vests, and limited-run dupattas in indigo and madder.

🪡 The Weavers of Gujarat

Shaivi at the handloom with a Varanasi weaver

Region: Gujarat
Craft: Handloom weaving on pit looms - cotton, thread, and mirror work
Practicing for: Over 30 years across two generations of the family

“A machine can copy the pattern. It cannot copy the tension. Every weaver has their own hand - that is what makes it alive.”

What we commission: Handwoven base fabrics for our structured pieces and occasion-wear blouses.

🪞 The Embroidery Families - Kutch, Gujarat

Shaivi with Kachchhi embroidery artisan families in the village

Region: Rural Kutch, Gujarat
Craft: Kutchi embroidery - mirror work, chain stitch, geometric patterns stitched entirely by hand
Practicing for: The women in these families begin learning as young girls. Some have been embroidering for 40+ years.

“We stitch what we feel. Every colour we choose means something. It is not decoration — it is language.”

What we commission: Hand-embroidered vests, blouse panels, and our most-loved mirror-work tote bags.

👜 The Leather Craftsmen - Rajasthan

Shaivi with leather artisans in Rajasthan examining handcrafted bags

Region: Rajasthan
Craft: Hand-tooled leather - camel leather bags, embossed and hand-stitched without machines
Practicing for: Father and son, 25+ years combined

“Good leather tells you when it is ready. You cannot rush it. We work with what the material gives us.”

What we commission: Our structured leather bags, crossbody slings, and hand-tooled clutches.

🖤 The Block Printers - Bagru, Rajasthan

Block printing lesson with master craftsman in Bagru

Region: Bagru, Rajasthan
Craft: Traditional Bagru block printing - mud resist and natural dye on cotton
Practicing for: Three generations. The grandfather still oversees every print run.

“My grandfather made blocks that I still use today. When I print with them, I feel he is still here, guiding my hand.”

What we commission: Block-printed cotton stoles, kurta yardage, and our seasonal print collections.

When you buy from Gul, you are not buying a product.
You are buying someone's life's work.
We think that deserves to be said out loud.