IOM; [Author]

David Palazón; [Graphic Designer]

Roshida Begum; [Author]

Jannat Ara; [Author]

Kurshida; [Author]

Sara Khatun; [Author]

Sanjida; [Author]

Minara Begum; [Author]

Hosne Ara; [Author]

Ajida; [Author]

Shamsunahar; [Author]

Moriam; [Author]

Shobika (Embroiderer); [Author]

Rohingya stitching designs

Fultola (embroidery)

Document (DOC)

Informational

Illustrative

Rohingya Fultola Dezain (Rohingya Stitching Designs) is a publication by the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre. This book showcases 65 stitches practiced by Rohingya refugee women in the Cox's Bazar camps. Eleven embroidery artists belonging to the IOM Cultural Memory Centre contributed to this volume. It is not an exhaustive compendium, but a primer. Rohingya women prefer thappa foor (satin stitch). Other popular stitched include simplest kantha (running or straight stitch), chain foor (chain stitch), and rog foor (rope stitch).

As Rohingya women have come into contact with the outside cultures - mainly through aid and development projects - they have added new stitches to their repertoire, so some stitches here may be a fusion of old and new, south and north. Still, as they learn new techniques, work with new materials, and gain more sophistication as artists, their stitching remain true to Rohingya aesthetics through use of color and love of flowers.