The Kutch region of Gujarat state, India, is a land of extremes. A desert on the western shore of the Arabian Sea, the temperature can hit 122 degrees in summer and below freezing in winter. People in this harsh environment need protection. It is up to the Vankar tribe to weave that protective clothing. They use cotton from local farms for the summer and Merino wool from local shepherds for the winter. Shawls and stoles, veils and turbans carry geometrical decorations and traditional motifs. The men weave the cloth and the women set the warp, make bobbins and do much of the post-weaving finish work.

Vankar Chhagan Samat lives with his parents, as well as with his five brothers and their wives and children. The family’s weavings reflect the rich blues, golds and bright reds of their desert environment, which, while harsh, attracts flamingos, larks and other migratory birds to this unique area.