The Haveli - a singing saga of stitch

Dear Karachiites,

As Lahoris, we always look forward to visiting Karachi. This time, it wasn't just about seeing friends, gallery hopping or trying out new eateries. We wanted to experience the Haveli - newly launched, first-ever textile museum of Pakistan. It was in the air that Nasreen and Hassan Askari had transformed their ancestral home into a museum showcasing Pakistan's rich textile heritage. The fragile, deteriorated fragments on display at Lahore and Taxila Museums, accompanied by limited information, had underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive collection, meticulous preservation, careful conservation and in-depth critique to ensure a rich and nuanced understanding of our textiles. While the said museums excel in showcasing exquisite manuscript paintings and stone carvings, with recent digitisation and visual storytelling enhancing their appeal, the textile collection is starkly neglected and poorly managed. It's a harsh reality that, given the limited resources, our museums face significant challenges in providing optimal care for these valuable artifacts.

In such a scenario, setting up 'Nasreen ki Haveli' is a promising step from a conscientious couple. Their endeavour sets a compelling precedent for others to follow in their footsteps as legacy leaders. Nasreen, a dentist by training, matched her passion for inquiry and quest for identity with a common fondness for clothing. Hassan's background in banking and his close association with London art circles broadened Nasreen's cultural horizons, fostering a deeper awareness and appreciation of crafts. It also inspired her to investigate and showcase costumes and textiles of Pakistan. The hard work resulted in a trend-setting, pioneering exhibition: The Colours of the Indus (Victoria & Albert Museum, 1997) aptly supported by a catalogue.

Textiles and related crafts, such as weaving, dyeing and embroidery, boast a rich history in the region now known as Pakistan. The Harappan civilisation, which spanned this area, pioneered early experiments in cotton cultivation, fiber spinning, cloth weaving and intricate surface embellishments. A testament to these ancient skills is the iconic Priest-King's statue, showcasing the sophistication of textile craftsmanship in his toga. The elegance and style, coupled with the breathtaking design sensibilities and impeccable craftsmanship of artisans, have been noteworthy here. Embroidery, tie-dye and appliqué continue to thrive as timeless surface decoration techniques, adorning fabrics with beauty and elegance.

The visit to 'Nasreen ki Haveli' also brought back fond memories of our younger days, particularly the vibrant regional stalls at the National Industrial Fair held alongside the Lahore Horse and Cattle Show at Fortress Stadium. We'd meet sellers from Mithi, Jacobabad and rural Sindh, showcasing pre-loved embroideries for sale. Items from Balochi and NWFP stands seemed newer - at least, that's how I remember it. However, I'm convinced that as a society, we're becoming increasingly forgetful, disregarding cultural conventions and neglecting enriching practices like embroidery. This neglect leads to lost cognitive skills, adverse effects on mental health, weakened communal bonds and wasted entrepreneurial opportunities, ultimately deteriorating societal infrastructure. It's fascinating to consider how embroidered cloth connects to personal development, cognitive skills and community building, while offering tremendous therapeutic benefits. Embroidered pieces embody creativity, curiosity and collective intellect, stitching generations together and singing the saga of civilisations.

The Haveli offers multiple connections: for academics and cultural practitioners, it's a treasure trove of artistic legacy spanning centuries; for anthropologists, it maps the region's cultural diversity. Designers can revel in its beauty, fashionistas can draw inspiration from the collections and others can marvel at the perfect blend of hand and mind coordination, colour sense and dedication that reflects the excellence of rural craftsmanship. The cultural mapping, design vocabulary, tribal identity, traditional ecological knowledge and lexical conservation are remarkable here.

The place is a beautiful gift to the nation from two citizen leaders.

Bano

October, 2025