Marwar Handloom & Sarees

Our place is in the Lilwati Tower over in Nayapura, Balotra. Being in a tower means we have a bit more of a structured environment compared to a street-side stall. However, it still feels like a local Balotra business through and through. Marwar Handloom & Sarees is mostly filled with the weight of heavy fabrics. We deal with a lot of handloom work, so there is a certain texture to everything in the shop. The air smells like dyed cotton and starch. We spend our days checking the weaves and making sure everything is stored properly. Balotra can get incredibly hot, so the shade of Lilwati Tower is something we are grateful for. We don't have any fancy displays or expensive lighting. We just use what we have to show the sarees. The floor is usually covered in some scraps of thread or plastic wrapping. It’s a working shop, not a museum. Most of the people who visit us are from nearby or have heard about the tower. We don't do much in terms of shouting about ourselves. We just open the doors in the morning and wait to see who comes in. It’s a steady kind of life. We sit on stools behind the counter and talk about the day’s weather or the price of materials. It’s simple and honest work. We are just one of many shops in Nayapura trying to stay busy.