Textile traditions in Pakistan are both historical and extensive. Archaeological finds inform us that cotton cultivation, weaving, dyeing and patterned cloth were prevalent in the Indus Valley as early as the seventh millennium BCE. In addition to the antiquity of the textile traditions of the country, its topography and the distinct influences that it has been subject to (with diaspora of people) have created forms of dress that are diverse within the country. Most aspects of Pakistan’s artistic and cultural traditions have been subsumed within a generic Indian or South Asian umbrella. The Haveli seeks to demonstrate the singularity of Pakistan’s traditional textiles and how they have been a catalyst for creating skills and adornment that combine West Asian traditions with those of
South Asia.