CHENNAI: The Craft Council of India (CCI) inaugurated its second edition of ‘Craftepreneur’, an exhibition of contemporary arts, crafts and textiles on October 28, 2015 at Lalit Kala Akademi. Almost 20 designers from across the country are participating in the four-day exhibition cum sale that offers everything from quirky jewellery and fabric to intricate weaves and home accessories.
With the next generation not keen on traditional craft, CCI aims to take the Indian craft to the next level, stylise it and make it more contemporary. “The whole name was coined because we wanted young entrepreneurs who are working exclusively with craft,” shares Rajeshwari, secretary of CCI.
The artists are selected according to their craftsmanship and the products they make. “Most of them are young. Some of them have left their comfortable jobs to follow their heart and work with artisans, which is an inspiration by itself. I think the youngsters need to know that you can do what you really love to do without compromising on revenue,” she adds.
Aparna Patel of Arishi studio says that the platform is helpful for artists who work with craftswomen from tribal communities of Gujarat and weavers from all over India. “We create modern contemporary clothing using traditional embroidery but without losing aesthetics of embroidery,” she says.
Salva Terra Home from Mumbai by the couple — Tanushree & Pradipto, had most customers on the first day itself. The accessories, home décor and furnishings reflected the global lifestyle sensibility. “I worked in an advertising agency initially. But I had always felt that I wanted to do something different. So I left my job and started working with NGOs and fair trade artisans from all across India,” says Tanushree, whose products are handmade and use azo-free dyes, vegetable colours, and bio-degradable and natural products.
Varnam, Colours for Your Home, one of the major attractions in the 2014 edition of Craftepreneur, are back this year too. A social enterprise by Karthik Vaidyanathan, it engages artisans in the toy town of Channapatna (near Bengaluru). “It is a 200-year-old eco-friendly toy-making craft. What we aim to do is make the products look like toys but make them more usable,” explains Karthik. Look out for their lacquered craft in the home and lifestyle space and also many of their vibrant door stoppers.
An innovation in pots was seen in the Windglaze stall, a pottery studio from Auroville run by Puneet Brar and Lorenzo Tabanelli. Bottled incense holders and plates, mugs, jugs, aromatherapy diffusers, lamp bases and other tableware were some of their creations. Says Puneet, “It’s a meticulous process that involves a lot of manual work. To create such intricate designs such as the leaf of jackfruit, drumstick and mango, requires a lot of time and patience. This platform is excellent for us to exhibit our work, as it emphasises the importance of our traditional crafts.”
Aiyana, Aure, Cotton Rack, Paulami, Maati creations, Love for the loom, Enoy, Soul Root, Zola, studio Saswata, Ssaha, Waarsa, Punarnawa crafts, Pink Lemon, Sparkle Berryz and Mubarakpur weaves are some of the other participants in Craftepreneur, which is on till October 31 from 10:30am to 7:30pm.