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about malkha

Malkha’s efforts have been to link local production networks of cotton farmers to handloom weavers through the radical introduction of  small-scale yarn spinning. To unweave colonial ruptures, Malkha supported experiments in decentralised spinning of unbaled cotton, natural dyeing, handwoven textile designs and hand block-printing that have opened up possibilities for indigenous desi cotton varieties that elude textile industry standards. Malkha facilitates knowledge exchanges between local farmers, spinners, dyers, weavers and consumers to bring textile literacy back into common knowledge

Malkha experiments with:

• Diverse cotton varieties

• Yarn count and twist variations

• Natural dyes from numerous plants and minerals 

• Different handloom weaving techniques

Malkha's (r)evolution leads to a handloom knowledge commons, where  producers of cotton - lint, yarn, and cloth -  are acknowledged as the rightful owners of knowledge. 

more about malkha's natural dyers, dyes and dyeing process

more about malkha's sonthanga collection


making of malkha



people

Organic Cotton Farming

Jangaon Aadharsa Enabavi Farmers FPO
B Giri Babu 
T Raghava Reddy
M Yadaiah
B Sujatha
B Yadagiri
B Savitri
Y Veera Swamy
P Srinu
G Rajashekar

Advisors
Poludas Nagendra Satish
Rajashekar G
Dr. Ramanjaneyulu GV - Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

Decentralised Spinning

Pulagurtha HWCS Spinning Unit Operators
Satyaveni K
Durga Devi N
Satyaveni T
Veeravenni B
Satyaveni J
Lovakumari T
Gowri U
Venkata Laxmi B
Venkata Padmavati B

Chief Spinning Engineer
Nulu Durga Manikanteswara Rao

Advisor 
Medathati Jagannadha

Natural Dyeing

Neeli Dye House, NIRD Dyers
R. Shyamala
T. Kalavathi
B. Lavakumari
Kavitha 
Anjamma (late)

Advisors
Odelu Vurugonda
Salim Mohammed Pasha (late)
K. V. Chandramouli (late)
Yellappa (late)

Handloom Weaving

Thangalapalli Weft Winders
Dasari Bhulaxmi
Gajula Bhulaxmi
Gajvelli Rajeswari
Kandagtla Subadra
Kodem Krishna Hari
Kokkula Ellavva
Virabathini Gouravva
Kodem Nagalaxmi
Boora Lalitha
Bhagya Lakshmi
Vemula Devadas
Bura Laxmi

Thangalapalli  Warp Winders
Kodem Shankar
Annaldas Pramila
Bandari Jamuna
Bandari Vimala
Bura Bhagyalaxmi
Chityala Rajavva
Kodem Pramila
Kodem Latha
Kodem Susheela
Macha Laxmi
Macha Rajavva
Sabbani Nirmala 
Siripuram Laxmi
Thatikonda Laxmi

Thangalapalli  Warpers
Bandari Narsaiah
Boora Laxmi Narsaiah
Mamidala Bhumaiah 

Thangalapalli Pieceing Helpers
Billi Pentaiah
Kodem Ramesh – Hank Sizing

Thangalapalli Weavers
Annaldas Narayana
Annaladas Narsappa
Bheemani Anandam
Birukuri Anjaneyulu
Bura Lakshmi Narsaiyah
Boora Dasaratham
Dhudugu Shankar
Akkaladevi Mallaiah
Gajavelli Yadagiri
Jakkapalli Ramulu
Konda Krishna Hari
Macha Satyanarayana
Mantri Devadas
Mantri Rajesham
Myana Narayana
Vemula Mallesham
Yadarapu Balaiah
Boora Narayana – Unit Incharge

Advisor (Ikat Tie and Dye)
K. Narasimhalu

Trustees & Management

Vaddepalli Dharmendar – Custodian
Prasanna Lakshmi - Financial Analyst
B. Annapurna – Accounting
R. Narsimha – Operations Manager
P. Srinivas - Sales Manager
Rama Melkote - Trustee
Annapurna Mamidipudi - Trustee
Uzramma – Founding Trustee