Heritage
The weaving traditions of the Goan Kunbi community are worth preserving on their own terms, not just as inspiration.
Behind the weave.
Every initiative starts somewhere. Ours started with a fabric that was quietly disappearing.
A fabric almost forgotten
Made for everyday Goan life.
Kunbi cloth was once ordinary — the everyday sari of Goa’s Kunbi and Gaunkar communities, the region’s original farming people. Sturdy handspun cotton, woven short so a woman could move through a paddy field without it getting in her way. Nothing about it was made for display.
Nearly 450 years of colonial rule changed what Goans wore day to day, and this working cloth slipped further out of use with each generation. By the time anyone thought to look closely, only a handful of older weavers still knew how to make it, and fewer still were being taught.
Weaves of Goan Natives started as a response to that gap — a decision to record what was left of the craft, support the people who still practised it, and find it a place in everyday life before that window closed for good.
What guides us
Empowerment
Livelihoods for women artisans come first; everything else is built around that.
Craftsmanship
Handwoven quality stays non-negotiable, even as design evolves.
Community
The networks around the craft matter as much as the craft itself.
Sustainability
Production stays mindful, local and accountable.
The people behind the vision
Shared belief. Local action.
Behind this vision are people who bring together a shared belief in Goa’s heritage, its people and its potential.
Shri Mauvin Godinho
Patron & Chief SupporterAs MLA of Dabolim and Hon’ble Minister for Transport, Industries, Trade and Commerce, Panchayati Raj, Protocol and Hospitality and Legislative Affairs, Shri Mauvin Godinho has championed the vision of creating opportunities for local communities through heritage, skill and enterprise.
His support has helped build a homegrown ecosystem where women can access training, infrastructure and avenues to turn traditional skills into sustainable livelihoods.
Verma D’Mello
Creative DirectorInternationally renowned Goan fashion designer Verma D’Mello leads the creative direction and production of Weaves of Goan Natives.
She brings traditional Kunbi textiles into contemporary design while ensuring their craftsmanship, character and cultural roots remain intact.
Our community
The craft grows through connection.
The initiative is built around women artisans, local weaving communities, conscious consumers, and cultural and design platforms — connecting the people who preserve Goa’s craft with those who can help carry it forward.
What we’re working towards
In the present: more artisans trained, more of the Kunbi weave documented, taught, practised and worn.
In the long term: a Goan handwoven tradition known well beyond Goa, into national and international circles, and a craft other communities can learn from.