A Summer Workshop with Anitha N. Reddy

In the warmth of summer, we gathered with art historian Anitha N. Reddy to explore the living tradition of the Siddi women’s quilts (Kawandi), a distinctive form of hand-stitched patchwork developed by Afro-Indian communities in northern Karnataka.

Over the course of a day, Anitha guided us through the philosophy and process behind the kawandi: layering recycled saris and cloth scraps, stitching from the edges inward, and celebrating improvisation over symmetry. Each piece, much like the Kawandi  themselves, became a map of memory, resilience, and renewal.

Our own workshop group carried its own layered histories. Quilters reflecting the rich diversity of Tottenham, each bringing stories of movement, migration, and belonging. Through shared labour we found parallels between the kawandi  and our own experiences: how fabric holds the traces of past lives, how reuse becomes an act of care, and how storytelling continues through the hands.

Anitha’s approach invited deep listening to material, to memory, and to one another. What emerged were not just textiles but shared spaces of kinship, where art, craft, and life entwined. The workshop became a conversation across continents, languages, and generations. This is a testament to how women’s work continues to mend and connect across time.