Indian tribal art has always been more than decoration — it is devotion, storytelling, and identity rendered through line and color. Among Gujarat’s most powerful sacred textile traditions is 'Mata ni Pachedi', a 300–700-year-old narrative art form painted on cloth. The central figure is usually one of the incarnations of Durga, often depicted in a shrine-like structure primarily using Red (energy), black (protection) and white (purity). It celebrates the divine feminine and the power of adornment. In the paintings, we see a lot of detailed drawings of intricate crowns and hair ornaments that reflect a structured or temple like design, which is often surrounded by natural elements like tree of life, floral motifs. The crown is often depicted on goddesses with multiple hands, wielding weapons like swords and tridents, amplifying the goddess's authority. The ornamentation becomes a metaphor for strength.
Stola’s latest collection, Pachedi Palette, explores and recreates these motifs in contemporary artistic style using oil pastels and water colours.
What makes Mata ni Pachedi visually compelling is its ornamental density. The goddess is adorned with elaborate crowns and hair ornaments that dominate the upper composition. These crowns often appear architectural — tomb-like domes, fan-shaped silhouettes, tiered temple structures — filled with repetitive linear patterns, dots, cross-hatching, and geometric detailing. Surrounding the central figure are secondary motifs — the Tree of Life, floral borders, animals, and rhythmic foliage. These natural elements soften the architectural rigidity while maintaining symmetry.
From Narrative Textile to Isolated Motif
Instead of replicating the full shrine composition, Pachedi Palette focuses on isolating and reconstructing individual motifs — particularly the ornamental crowns and temple-inspired frames.The development process begins with studying the original line quality. Traditional Pachedi uses strong black outlines to define form before filling with color. In the collection, this outlining technique is retained but refined. Clean, confident strokes create clarity, allowing the motifs to feel bold and modern rather than densely ritualistic.
The motifs are recreated using oil pastels and water colours.
Reimagining the Color Story
While traditional Mata ni Pachedi relies on red, black, and white, Pachedi Palette expands the spectrum dramatically. Fresh hues such as lime green, cobalt blue, vibrant pink, and reds breathe new life into the motifs. It aligns the motifs with contemporary fashion sensibilities. Bold outlines frame bright interiors, echoing the traditional black contour lines. This continuity preserves the graphic integrity of the art form.
Ornamental motifs
The crown motif is the main motif of the collection. Extracted from the goddess head ornaments, it transforms into a powerful symbol. Its layered tiers, fan-like expansions, and temple-inspired arches translate seamlessly into repeat patterns and placement prints. The crown structures are filled with intricate linear drawings. By focusing on these ornamental elements, the collection blends heritage with stylistic freedom.
Pachedi Palette retains the essence of Mata ni Pachedi’s strength, structure, and symbolism while adapting it for today’s women. The clean outlines reflect confidence. The bold color reflects individuality. Together, they create garments that feel rooted yet progressive.
For the modern woman, clothing is a form of self-expression. Much like the goddess adorned with intricate crowns and ornaments, today’s wearer chooses prints that reflect identity and strength. In this way, the spirit of adornment remains constant — only the medium evolves.