A Latin script typeface based on the nomadic pastoral embroidery of the Dhebaria Rabaris, who live in Kutch (Gujarat, India), Sindh (Pakistan) and Rajasthan (India).
 
A Latin script typeface based on the nomadic pastoral embroidery of the Dhebaria Rabaris, who live in Kutch (Gujarat, India), Sindh (Pakistan) and Rajasthan (India). We worked with five women—Balli ben, Jeni ben, Seju ben, Parma ben and Dawal ben—from the Dhebaria Rabari community through an NGO based in Kotay village, Sumrasar Sheikh, Kutch, Gujarat. 
 
Rabaris are a Hindu pastoral community originally from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. However, some researches claim that  they originally came from Central Asia.
 
This is a multi-colored typeface coming in 4 layers, each representing a different style of stitch which can be colored differently—rekha (line), bharat (embroidery or fill), aabhla (the shiny mirrors reflecting the hope for water or the mirage of the dry lands) and, daant (literally teeth, referencing the spiky shrub that grow in the desert where the community live). These colors aim to capture the ornate beauty and variety of their embroidery that vary with each group.
 
We also have "Rabari Bharat" which comes in 3 "weights" or styles reflecting the richness and diversity of the Rabari community.
 
There are many subgroups in the Rabari community — the Dhebaria Rabari, Vaagadiya Rabari, Kachchhi or Kachi Rabari, Bhopa Rabari, Maarwada Rabari, Dwarkawada Rabari and the Choradiya Rabari. All the subgroups identify themselves first and foremost as Rabari—ek doe e bandhaanyela Rabari (one thread binds us all). Irrespective of subgroup, Rabari men and women lead a nomadic life in search of pasture with their sheep and their camels.
 
Rabari bharat (embroidery) used to play an important part of a Rabari woman’s daily life. From a young age she would have to learn from her mother and start to prepare her bridal trousseau. She would embroider garments such as the choli (blouse), odhani or shawl (drape) and skirts. She was not allowed to marry till her trousseau would be ready! This created a lot of pressure and undue stress, and in the 1990s, menfolk of the community outlawed embroidery for personal wear. Since then embroidery is only done for items sold.
 
Mirrors (or aabhla) are used in various shapes and sizes and abstracted forms of scorpions, peacocks and parrots as well as flowers and geometric patterns are embroidered in chain stitch and accent stitches in bold colours. Back stitch bakhiyo is also used to decorate the seams of women’s blouses and men’s kediyun jacket