The Haveli Textile Museum: Pakistan’s Rich Textile Heritage on Display in Karachi

The Haveli is Pakistan’s first museum dedicated

exclusively to heritage textiles, aligning with

a global tradition of textile museums

Cultural Reporter

Karachi: The Haveli, a vibrant addition to Karachi’s cultural landscape, was officially inaugurated yesterday. The groundbreaking museum, established by a private family foundation, houses the internationally acclaimed textile collection of Nasreen Askari, a leading expert on textiles and the director and co-founder of the Mohatta Palace Museum.

Pakistan’s First Heritage Textile Museum

The Haveli is Pakistan’s first museum dedicated exclusively to heritage textiles, aligning with a global tradition of textile museums found in major cities worldwide. The museum is housed in a stunning modernist architectural structure designed by Habib Fida Ali. It aims to explore Pakistan’s societal fabric through traditional textiles while sharing its cultural creativity with the world.

Inaugural Exhibition: A Coat of Many Colours

The museum’s inaugural exhibition, A Coat of Many Colours, features around 60 exquisite objects that highlight the significant contributions of minority communities to Sindh’s textile traditions.

Nasreen Askari, Chairman of the family foundation, expressed her vision: “This is the culmination of a lifelong dream of mine; to share with the city of my birth the extraordinary creativity of artisans in this region. It is not often recognised that Sindhi embroidery is among the most skillful in the world. I hope that our first exhibition, A Coat of Many Colours, will help demonstrate this reality.”

Visitor Information

The Haveli welcomes visitors from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 AM to 6 PM. The facility includes a serene landscaped garden, a gift shop, and light refreshments. A nominal donation is required for admission, and rights of admission are reserved.

The Haveli promises to become a hub for cultural enthusiasts and heritage lovers, celebrating the rich artistry and craftsmanship of Pakistan’s textile traditions.