"The Weave of Heritage: An Animated Tale of Swabi’s Cultural Shawl Chail"

Abstract

This research shed light on the materiality of clothes and the significance of notions or beliefs about it. The focus was on a case study of a living symbol of culture and feminine identity of the women of Swabi called Chail. Chail was a chador that had been used by women in Swabi for a long time and had become a manifesto. The main idea of this project was to revitalize the materiality of Chail in terms of history and culture. The animated documentary followed the journey of a young girl who uncovered the historical importance of Chail in her village. Fascinated by the shawl’s cultural significance, she embarked on a quest to discover the creator behind this symbolic garment. Through this narrative, the project brought to life the history and cultural relevance of Chail through finding its creator, offering a visually engaging exploration of tradition and identity.