Founder Judy Frater: Judy Frater traveled to India at age 19 to improve her batik techniques. On a trip to Kutch, she discovered embroidery and diverted to exploring the mystery of austere women creating raucous colourful tableaus. She went on to do Masters Degrees in Anthropology at the University of Minnesota and Museum Studies at the University of Washington, and continued research on traditional textiles of Kutch for over 30 years. She authored the award-winning book Threads of Identity, and chapters in several other books.