They unfold in patterns, motifs, detailed designs, and the delicate threads of embroidery. And that’s the joy and the challenge of being an artist, weaving wordless tales for others to read. It’s just a matter of looking hard enough.

And that’s what Aditi Patwari, a Dubai-based textile artist did. Growing up knitting, embroidering with her mother and grandmother, she was surrounded by stories. It was a manner of connection and spending important time together, she says. “I think that all these women inspired by love for textiles and storytelling.”

 Every artist begins a journey with drawing on every possible surface they find as a child, and so did Patwari. This early immersion in textiles became the foundation for her later explorations, both traditional and experimental. She always knew that she wanted to become an artist, and discovered that she could pursue this dream through textiles after studying in the UK. “I felt a pull, and allowed myself to follow my heart and I’m so glad that I did,” explains Patwari.

She felt an undeniable urge to create, an itch she had to scratch.  “There were beautiful, rich textile techniques that I grew up with, and there was the new age experimental ways that creatives in the UK were pushing the boundaries of what textiles can do – or what even constitutes textiles and how they are made. Since then, it has been a journey of discovering and fusing new and old parts of myself as I live and travel in new places,” she says.

There’s a remarkable versatility and fluidity surrounding textiles. According to Patwari, their use is varied: Functional, or used for fashion, interiors, or just for pure expression and play. “It’s also exciting to experiment with fabrics in combination with hard surfaces such as plexiglass, wood and metal. I like how different surfaces and textures mix together, to create a dance between soft, hard, firm and fluid,” she says. It’s an essence of her practice: Pushing the boundaries of what is seen as textiles and art.

She reimagines felt, a medium often associated with children's crafts, by incorporating it into luxurious interior designs. Observing people's astonishment when they realize they're viewing felt brings her fulfillment, prompting the question: 'What informs our perceptions of certain mediums?’

 Patwari’s excitement for geometry is palpable, a sentiment that isn’t usually expressed. But, she doesn’t see them as just rectangles, squares and shapes: She sees it as untapped potential. “Artists in the region usually tell their stories of beauty through repeated geometrical shapes,” she says, revealing that it fuelled the inspiration behind her Dubai Darbaar Collection after moving to the Emirates, 10 years ago. The Collection is made of statement wall artworks, and many tiles that can be repeated across surfaces. It’s an exploration of the art philosophy that one small thing, if repeated multiple times, can create the entire universe.  “So, the artworks themselves act as tiles that can be repeated across walls, floors. The unique feature of these pieces is that they can be customised to different types of spaces, which makes it easier to collaborate with other designers looking to bring more cultural elements into their interiors,” she says.

 Discussing her favourite piece that she worked on, she says that while studying ancient temple architecture in Bali, she discovered striking parallels to architectural sites in the Middle East. This observation led her to create a piece symbolising balance among the four elements—earth, fire, water, and air—using repeating square patterns. “The use of squares as a symbol of balance between the four elements, earth, fire, water, and air, became the foundation for this piece. “The square, with its balanced sides, creates harmony,” she explains.  

So how does she choose her materials? “It depends. I usually work in batches or collections,” she says.

 Each is carefully chosen for its cultural and artistic value. During the pandemic, she began experimenting with upcycled materials, such as discarded cardboard boxes and printer paper, which eventually culminated in her Natural Formations series, inspired by Palestinian Tatreez embroidery. The series was exhibited at the UAE Designers 2.0 exhibition during Dubai Design Week 2021. “Now there are incredible other artists telling these stories such as UAE based mother-daughter duo called Palmera Art,” she says.

Patwari’s work might be rooted in cultural symbols, but she constantly reimagines them to suit contemporary aesthetics. By deconstructing and reconstructing traditional motifs—such as paisley or mashrabiya—she works to bring new life to familiar designs. “It’s about keeping enough information from the past, while fusing it with more modern aesthetics,” she explains. Whether it’s simplifying shapes or using minimal colors, Patwari’s work captures the essence of tradition while appealing to modern tastes.

Patwari, who launched her textile brand, Dea by Aditi Patwari in 2020, doesn’t let her creativity get subdued by the clinical aspects of running a business. As she frankly says, it is like wearing two hats and she looks at both her roles with a flexible and structured approach.  “I put down all my tasks into my calendar so I know what I need to get done each day, but I allow myself to be in flow and move things around constantly,” she shares. “I think work can also be creative, and I find I work best when I am in a state of ease and flow.”

 Business and art are part of the same machine; her creativity doesn’t ebb or fall into a mechanical rut. In fact, it’s almost the reverse: The more she creates, the stronger the desire she has to get her work seen. She has also held art exhibitions in over 10 countries, including Dubai Design Week 2020, UAE Designers 2.0, Downtown Design, 2021, and World Art Dubai and has also commissioned artworks for luxury properties and hotels, such as Bab Al Shams Resort, which was curated by Capsule Arts. The desire to create keeps burning and in 2021, she launched her own pop-up at Cosentino in Dubai Design District.

The appreciation, feedback surrounding her art just strengthens her resolve to continue what she has started. She emphasises the importance of checking in with her intuition and staying connected to herself. “When I feel settled within myself, I make better decisions and everything around me feels settled too.”

 This approach is reflected in how she prices her art. It’s a conundrum that many artists face: How do you price your artwork in a way that honors both its cultural significance and its value as a creative product? "Pricing is just as much of an art as creating art is," she says. “I decide on a case by case basis. How long did it take to make? The size, techniques and materials used, are factored in. Is the artwork a pure self-expression, that is, did I create it just for myself and then someone asked to purchase it? Or is it created as a commission, or did someone request for a piece to be made in a particular way, colour or size? How different is this commission from my previous work? Do I need to research new techniques, sources new material? Is someone going to buy this and use it themselves, or sell it to someone else? What comission are they getting on this resale? These are just a few considerations I make, but ultimately, I want to feel at peace with the price. Where there is a real and equal exchange in value, where my work is bringing joy to someone or some place.”

 The world is getting noisier and more content-driven. And so, there’s a stronger desire to hold on to authenticity. It’s something that Patwari strongly believes, as she runs a thriving business. “My art and business are an extension of me, so I just express myself genuinely and my passion for art and textiles shows itself naturally – the growth of the business is a natural by-product of that,” she says.