Month: April 2020
IT’S NOT ABOUT CRAFT
IT’S NOT ABOUT CRAFT
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken India`s economy to the core. Though everyone has taken a hit, some have been hit more than others. The rural artisans are amongst those severely impacted. According to government figures, there are an estimated seven million artisans in India, however other sources peg the number to 200 million. The artisans constitute the backbone of India’s Handicraft sector, but at the time of duress are left to fend for themselves. Though some craftworkers do own land, millions do not. These landless artisans are forced to work as landless farmers or to migrate to cities as daily wage labourers. This puts the entire sector of traditional handicrafts at risk.
We at Indha Craft (www.indha.in) have been trying to revive the receding Indian handicrafts sector by creating a market for the products across India and abroad. Global markets are slowly evolving and have begun to like the handmade, thereby giving hope to rural artisanal communities.
The lockdown has unfortunately impacted the lives of these communities once again. Due to the pandemic, markets have collapsed. These artisans are forced to traverse uncertainties and turn towards daily wage work to sustain themselves and their families. This lockdown has taken away their livelihoods and any kind of survival security. With the forced migration, they also face health risks posed by the pandemic.
We would like to make an appeal to support the impacted artisan families whom we are unable to help. Indha Artisans are at the brink of losing hope, and they need financial support to stay positive and with the belief that this too shall pass.
We are reaching out to all you Indha supporters to contribute whatever possible so that the artisans can sustain themselves for a month. We expect the markets to open soon with IndhaCraft gearing up to market Indha products soon.
Your smallest contribution could be one`s day`s ration for a Family.
Click here to donate online https://www.literacyindia.org/relief-fund-for-poorest-of-the-poor/
Captain Indraani Singh,
Founder – Indha & AirIndia Commander
Doodle into Craft
There had been lots written about Doodle Art across the world as to how it is distressing and can be meditative. This is also found to be hip and Spiffy used in many accessories by World famous Designers. I thought we could use the Doodle Art into our Block Prints and our Embroideries which further gets shaped into Products. To develop a taste for such designs, we had to get out there and take that chance. I was pleasantly surprised that many of Today`s Generation took a liking for this in our line of Furnishings and Bags with some Unique Doodles.
Our Artisans did ask us innocent questions about what the artwork meant, though they enjoyed working on it simultaneously.
I needed to imagine a living Room where in this work of Art would stand out, leading to a new trend and style. I felt pride that we could blend Joy of Creating something, and at the same time convert this into Craft impacting lives. Since then, Our Doodles became our original in the line of designs especially on Men`s Apparel we have started using, Our Recent Shirt Material was a major hit. We used doodles of Masks of different kinds, Bicycles, Autorickshaws, Geometrical designs etc. Our Stoles, Scarves and Bandana Block Prints were quite Popular.
Captain Indraani Singh,
Founder – Indha & AirIndia Commander
FROM A DISTANT LAND
Villages of District Purulia is primarily forested all around. Thes Forests are lush Green and full of herbal plants that may be the reason most of the Tribals took care of themselves with no hospitals for miles in these villages. Forest is full of Wild Elephants besides other small animals. Indha happened in the community because of Mother Lode “Literacy India”. It set up shop with a centre opening in Village Lowakui, Block Baghmundi, District Purulia, right in the middle of the Forest. Those days Mao activities were in full scale with every now and then acute problems with the Govt. However Literacy India centre worked peacefully without any hitch. Work spread from Lowakui village to Raghunathpur. Village houses in Raghunathpur are painted beautifully, it made us wonder about their latent talent of the Village folks. Women would sing in their homes while doing house chore, they would dance in bright colour sarees during festivals. Indha explored with their skill with embroidery and Stitching. |
They were trained, and what we found that they were natural, their needlework with little training blossomed which the world had to see. Women would do their household chores, then get their children from nearby govt school where Literacy India is already running its educational program, they would sit down with their needle and thread. Technology played a significant part, we would design a basic sketch in Gurgaon, then email it to Literacy India coordinator in Purulia, the description would reach the Raghunathpur centre and Voila ! the vivid, colourful needlework would be the product of the day. This became a natural pattern for us, and the number of women multiplied started working on a variety of embroidery. These Designs, in turn, become a part of many Table Runners, Cushion Covers, Bags, etc., we created a market with these designs and these talented hands. This Tribal Woman could be heard singing happily while going back home with the money at her remote village sent to her from all the way from Posh Gurgaon. Most of these Tribal Women have never gone beyond a few communities in her life while the work travelled the world. We feel proud of taking their work to Everyone. |
Captain Indraani Singh,
Founder – Indha & AirIndia Commander