Indian Artisans

  6. Kantha Origin: Kantha embroidery, primarily practised by rural women, comes from East Indian states such as West Bengal, Odisha and Tripura, and Bangladesh. Creation: Kantha embroidery is done by stitching on the fabric, which gives the fabric a wrinkled and wavy look, with various motifs of flowers, animals, celestial objects, and geometric patterns. Originally done to make cushions, blankets, sarees, and bedspreads, Kantha is now used for both men and women in dupattas and tops. 7 . Phulkari Origin: Mentioned in Heer Ranjha's folklore, Phulkari comes from Punjab 's rural embroidery tradition. Its present form can be traced back to the 15th century reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Creation: The base cloth is dull khadi, mostly hand spun, which is then fully covered with a vibrant embroidered pattern that leaves no gaps. Each motif follows a geometric pattern using darn stitch for simple vertical , horizontal and diagonal thread worms with motifs of nature (mainly flowers)....

  10 Traditional Embroideries of India 1. Chikan / Chikankari Origin: Chikankari originated from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and is rumoured to have been introduced by Noor Jahan, wife of Jahangir. It started with white embroidery on a white cloth, but it is now available in every conceivable colour. Creation: This embroidery involves patience and ability, by stitching on patterns traced on a variety of cloth materials such as muslin, silk, chiffon, net, cotton, etc. White thread was originally used to represent nature (flora and fauna) motifs, but now coloured. 2. Zari / Zardosi Origin: Zari, introduced in the 16th century by the Mughals, is the very type of opulence. The word Zardosi comes from gold (zari) and embroidery (dosi) in Persian. Creation: On silk and velvet, metallic threads were used. Zardosi embroidered clothes originally used gold or silver threads made of precious stones and pearls, making them luxurious items worn exclusively by the wealthy. 3. Aari Origin: This embro...

  Indian embroidery traditions that make a style statement One of the most enduring artistic traditions of India is its numerous embroidery styles. Every state and area has its own style, but needlework is not just a way of decorating. The fabrics are often threaded with group tales, with motifs that arise from their natural climate, economic condition, and socio-political milieu. Many of these old and often forgotten embroidery designs are resurrected and popularised as new embodiments of luxury when handmade pieces are reborn as new embodiments of luxury. Such methods are not only common with designers in India, but also with foreign labels. For decades, Belgian designer Dries van Noten has worked in Kolkata with embroiderers, and Mumbai is a trade centre for a variety of luxury brands that are looking for Indian embroidery. Labels such as Gucci, Valentino, Alberta Ferretti, Maison Margiela, and Christian Dior collaborate with the Chanakya embroidery company located in Mumbai, wh...

  COLORFUL CRAFTS IN KUTCH Passionate about traditional textiles in India? Time to head west to Gujarat! The textiles and crafts of Kutch (also spelled Kachh) are some of the most stunning India has to offer. A small town in the Kutch region, Bhuj is a historical hub for the textile trade in the city. For hundreds of years, nomads have passed through Bhuj, stopping to barter and sell colourful wares. The crafts found in and around Bhuj are a technicoloured dream, ranging from hand-stitched embroidery glittering with mirrors to unlikely intricate patterned block fabrics printed by hand. But, of course, not everyone has time to wander peacefully. Some of the Kutch Region's especially popular crafts and textiles include. Kutch 's craft culture is as lively and diverse as India itself, from intricate embroidery to metal work to natural dyed fabrics. Most villages have their own styles and specialties; exploring the region at your own speed and seeing what you find is the best solut...

  First day at work? Follow these 10 tips First day at work is the day everyone waits for!   It’s the most important day of our life. As a kid we always think of this day that how exciting it would be to join an organization. But as we grow up things change we realize how competitive the world is and how important it is to give your heart and soul on the first day as this is the day you will get judged. This is the day when your real struggle starts. Life completely changes after this day. And we all know that first impression is the last impression so it is very important to pay attention on few things. So here are few tips that are going to help you to get ready for your first day. 1. Be confident “While entering the room I could hear me heart beat it felt like my heart is going to come out”. This is something we get to hear from almost everyone on their first day and for some it continues for a week or so. No matter how experienced we are deep inside we all are ...

BRANDS ARE REVIVING INDIAN HANDICRAFTS AND CRAFTING A LIVELIHOOD FOR RURAL ARTISANS Tijori Tjori is a multi-category, online-first ethnic craft brand that includes items for clothing, health, home, and mother and child. The brand focuses on items made by hand and the quality of traditional Indian ingredients. Tjori started on a small whiteboard with a massive foresight for the company, an opportunity that was exploited on a global platform due to the lack of awareness about India's traditional and heritage handicrafts. Zara was the inspiration, starting from a small boutique in Spain and now worldwide. Tjori focuses on the quality of traditional Indian ingredients and crafts at its core. Emphasis is unique-but the common thread across categories is this uniqueness. They believe in the goodness and virtue of our goods, which in their production are handmade and traditional with a fusion of modernity to stand at the same level in terms of both quality and choice with brands fro...

  Indian Artisans Artisans as we all know are the backbone of non-farm Indian Rural economy. Artisans put their heart and soul to make a product. Apart from farming craft production is what they do to earn livelihood. However, propelled by loss of markets, declining skills and difficulty catering to new markets, the number of Indian artisans has been rapidly decreasing. Artisans are unable to earn much out of the hand-crafted items they make. In urban areas people run after modern art and fancy products even though they don’t have much in it. And hence these artisans are lacking in showing their talent. Not having proper platform to showcase their talent has always been one of the major reasons for them to be lagging. Weavers, potters, block printers, painters and few more together make it an industry of rupees 24,000 crore.   While artisans got imperial and distinguished support during pre-Independence days and assumed a focal function in Gandhi's autonomy batt...