Culture And Memory

Hidden Threads: Revealing the Heritage of South Asian Muslim Women in Bradford

Hidden Threads will preserve and share the living cultural heritage of South Asian Muslim women in Bradford, transforming informal, undocumented knowledge into a recognised and lasting public resource. The project will capture traditional textile practices, including phulkari embroidery rooted in Punjab, crewelwork traditions from Kashmir, and other techniques passed down through generations, alongside the migration histories, cultural identities, and lived experiences of the women who practise them. This heritage exists largely outside formal archives and is at real risk of being lost. Through community-led sessions, public exhibitions, and a digital archive, the project will connect people and communities to this heritage for the first time, ensuring it is preserved, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.