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Priya Jose Variath

Manchester Met University

I am a textile designer and handloom weaver whose practice is focused on natural materials, bio materials, and circular design. After graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai with a Bachelor of Design in Textile Design, I realized I wanted to work closely with artisan led organizations to better understand traditional craftsmanship and India's rich textile heritage. This led me to collaborate with brands working directly with craft communities, deepening my understanding of handmade textiles, sustainable materials, and indigenous knowledge. To further broaden my perspective on craft, culture, and contemporary textile practice in an international context, I completed a MA in Textiles at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Today, I explore how weaving can bridge traditional craftsmanship with sustainable material innovation, creating tactile textiles using natural fibers, agricultural waste, and bio-based materials. Alongside my studio practice, I continue to study India's craft clusters and collaborate with artisans whenever possible, learning from their expertise while helping raise awareness of traditional weaving practices. Through my work, I aim to celebrate the value of handmade textiles, promote sustainable material practices, and contribute to preserving India's rich craft heritage for future generations.

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Woven Land: Weaving with Materials from the Land

Category: Interior

Competitions: Home Competition 2026

Woven Land is a project about land, people, and craft. In Kerala, the paddy fields are more than beautiful landscapes, they represent resilience, growth, and the cycles of life. This connection between land and livelihood resonates strongly with the weaving community of Chendamangalam, whose tradition has been passed down for generations. Chendamangalam weavers are most recognised for their Kasavu sarees, finely woven white cotton edged with metallic zari. More than garments, these sarees are cultural symbols of purity, festivity, and belonging. Yet in 2018, devastating floods swept through Kerala, destroying workshops, looms, and materials, leaving many weavers without their livelihoods and severing ties to their heritage. Despite such losses, the weavers returned to their craft with remarkable strength and determination. Their resilience became the heart of my project. Through Woven Land, I sought not to replicate sarees but to reinterpret the essence of Kasavu for contemporary contexts. Instead of metallic zari, I used locally sourced bio materials such as lavender, heather, grass, hay and coconut coir combined with cotton and jute warps. These elements bring new layers of texture, scent, and memory to the cloth, embedding the land itself into woven form. Each piece, whether a table runner, lampshade, or curtain blind carries traces of both the landscape and the people who shape it. The accompanying short documentary, Noolkaikal (Threaded hands), captures the weavers in their workshops, offering their voices and rhythms directly. It forms the foundation of the project, grounding the design work in lived experience. Ultimately, Woven Land is a gesture of solidarity, an attempt to bring Chendamangalam’s story into international design conversations, not by speaking for the weavers but by amplifying their craft as alive, evolving, and deeply relevant today.

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Neythu

Category: Interior

Competitions: Home Competition 2025

Neythu is a woven interpretation of cultural memory, language, and material storytelling, inspired by Sadhya, the traditional festive meal of Kerala, South India. Developed within the Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) framework, this collection reimagines the sensory and symbolic richness of Sadhya for a contemporary home furnishing context. The design process draws upon the visual arrangement of over 20 dishes served on a banana leaf, traditionally circular in layout, and reinterprets them into structured weaves, reflecting a modern, abstract sensibility. A thoughtfully curated colour palette, references the natural pigments of spices, curry, and foliage seen in the Sadhya setting. To create a deeper cultural and material connection, the samples incorporate natural materials such as coir, dried grass, banana peel, and cotton which are reflective of Kerala’s ecological identity. These materials contribute to a richly textured, multi-sensory textile experience. Crucially, the collection also explores Malayalam, the language of Kerala, not through direct script but through a metaphorical woven interpretation. The rhythm, flow, and structure of Malayalam lettering are translated into the movement of weave patterns, the spacing of yarns, and the use of bio materials. This abstract representation allows the language to be felt rather than read, echoing the way culture is often absorbed through everyday rituals and sensory memory. Through Neythu, I invite viewers to look beyond surface and utility, to see textiles as living stories that carry the scent of turmeric, the hush of grass, and the rhythm of a language felt in the fingertips. In a world driven by speed and disposability, this collection stands still, woven slowly, woven naturally, and woven with memory.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.