Porgai Artisans
Artist
Porgai Artisans
Location
Tamil Nadu, India
Creating
Lambadi Embroidery
Meet Proud Mary artists from the Porgai Artisans Association. Based in the Sittilingi Valley of Tamil Nadu, the artists of Porgai are reviving the nearly lost tradition of Lambadi embroidery. With a vast stitch vocabulary of over 40 different stitches, Lambadi is a deftly executed art, done without prior drawing, and following the artist’s instincts around color and composition. The artist’s vibrant geometric patterns are often embellished with mirrors and shells and each piece is a reflection of the artist’s relationship to the land and their culture.
The craft had all but disappeared until Neela and Gammi, two spirited women in their 70s, reignited it in 2006 by drawing on their childhood memories and founding the Porgai Artisans Association. “Porgai” means pride and dignity, and that spirit flows through every thread. Today, more than 60 Lambadi women have been trained, transforming this ancestral knowledge into a source of both creative expression and economic independence.
By preserving their cultural heritage and earning dignified livelihoods, these artists are keeping families rooted in the valley, redefining the value of rural craftsmanship. In each hand-stitched piece is a story of self-worth, community, and pride.
