THEME PAVILION Sustainable Crafts from North Eastern States Cane & Bamboo Crafts, Handlooms, Silks, Decoratives, Jewellery and Much More

THEME PAVILION Sustainable Crafts from North Eastern States Cane & Bamboo crafts, handlooms, silks, decoratives, jewellery and much more...

Featuring 18 participants from the NER states like Assam, attracted one Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, the NER Theme Presentation at instantly, like a IFJAS offered a pleasant aura with handcrafted, hand woven traditionally dressed and handspun all across the display area. up Sikha herself. She Bapan Sarkar from Guwahati, a participant in EPCH fairs displayed since last four years got handloom cushion covers and stoles Jaapi(traditional displayed alongside selections in exquisite Muga and assamese hats), kurtis Eri(ahimsa) silk. and dupattas made Their handlooms of Muga silk. This was and other artistic her second participation at an EPCH show but local exhibitions in Assam, Kolkata and Delhi are not new to her. She has two stores in Kolkata and three in Assam. Here she sees a better and bigger market opportunity and hopes to cater to the international market. IFJAS is a great initiative and good opportunity for starters says first time participant, Tsering Gurung from Dimapur, textiles are made Nagaland. Though this family business was started by her by local artisans. These are recognized and respected by mother, she wishes to shape it better. They specialize in international buyers and the international market has a good jewellery mostly made demand for hand made artistic textiles, said the exhibitor. with beads in variety of Organic and UV colours and shapes. resistant handspun They are all handmade “Ghicha shawls” that offer tribal lines, including 80% sun protection come some that are from another exhibitor modernized fancy ones, dealing in artistic textiles- informed Tsering, Haider Ali. He too is a quickly adding that they regular participant since can be obtained as complete 2008 and has been in the pieces or as loose beads. In the trade since 2004. They local market they sell to customers deal in Muga silk which is also in Dimapur and to tourists during the annual Hornbill Festival. termed, wild silk of Assam, besides They have a facebook page by the name of tribaljwelery. Many Eri and blends. They export to buyers buy from the stock available at the store, which is Germany, France and USA and this located at Hongkong market in Dimapur. year, hope to widen their export Nengneithem Hengna a first timer at IFJAS, was keen to market. With an endeavour to promote North Eastern culture, reach out to international buyers through this platform. This Sikha Das from Assam had a stall bedecked with Assamese business is their family tradition that specializes in handmade traditional jewellery and Muga as well as cotton stoles that traditional jewellery, shawls and clothes like the Assamese e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016 Mekhala chador. They use “IFJAS is traditional practices and a great just refine the designs. platform Their unit is managed by specially for an NGO-R.B Foundation, rural artists so based in Guwahati. we are Anindita, a textile designer who has been working since hoping for a nine years, launched her own business only 1 year ago by the good future name of Pink Shade LLP. This was her maiden participation at through the IFJAS and she absorbed the fair,” said Dibyajyoti Sarmash, experience well. Speaking an entrepreneur with 4 to 5 about her work, she informed, years in business. Bamboo and firstly, the design is cane jewellery, wallets of developed, then it is sent to bamboo and table runners made of bamboo and sandal seeds the factory where the crafts constituted their product range that looked very creative, persons make it. Everything is handmade and delicate. Time taken to finish a piece depends handmade, except the textile entirely on the design but runners take 2 to 3 days since they but that too is designed in the make it in bulk. They also make beds, chairs, planters, rings, factory. She designs the products bamboo trays and cane sofas (12 seaters). Off late, they are which are mainly cushion covers and bags. She has already experimenting with bamboo and ceramic blends. Mridusmita met buyers from Japan and Denmark through IFJAS. has a firm that deals exclusively in jewellery. Her stall had displayed practically all forms of Founded in 2010 in Barpeta, Assam, Tambul Plates intricately crafted jewellery in bamboo. Marketing Limited is more of a movement to bring completely chemical free biodegradable tableware to modern lifestyles. At S D The plates, bowls and Enterprises, the trays have simple & artisans are attractive deeply designs, are associated with hygienic and pinon and hadi - even liquid Chakma tribal and heat dress from Assam. These are hand woven for days at a stretch proof. The and at times a single piece takes about twenty days to be product is a prepared with perfection. Made from cotton using chemical great help to the rural workers and they wish to generate free colours these are wrap-around and reversible artisanal livelihood for over 50,000 rural youth through this. apparel, made by rural artisans.

e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016 Traditional eastern India mats that go by the commonly known by assamese name ‘Sittal patti’ and work as coolants during summers and are a big part of prayer as well as marriage ceremonies in the languishing art, that region were her people have brought to IFJAS at forgotten. So she took the NER Theme this initiative to revive it with a twist. She has added her Pavilion by creativity to the traditional patchwork art of Sikkim’s Bhutia Dubapara Patshilpa community. She Cooperative. It is takes the help of used as floor covering, ceiling rural artisans in covering, etc. The local demand is preparing these very high and it is a must in every bags and traditional household in Assam. They are also makers of bags and this was belts so that the art their first time in the fair for an international reach. is not lost. She has a With Krishnazia Thakur and Olenka Dilip as co-founders, shop online as well. Junuka Jewels from Farhana Sultana Assam offered “perfect Begum, a first timer at IFJAS fusion of the tradition of carries on a family business the eight north eastern of hand- made bamboo craft. states as The main attraction at her well as stall were the simple & graceful earrings. Made with bamboo ethnic and and fevicol, the designs included chokers and other neck tribal” in pieces. Although dainty, gracious, shimmering and bold hand crafted jewellery. Manipur’s Meetai community’s Marei Pareng which takes 2-3 days to be crafted is their most admired and best selling jewellery.The stall had a rich electrifying vibe to it, offering simple everyday wear designs as well as a mix and match of colours in some. Their experience at the fair has been joyful. Lagtsal from Sikkim was represented by Chimib, an experienced designer in home décor though bags are a part of her experimenting with free hand craft. She studied designing this was her first time here, she has high expectations that this from NIFT and through her stall at IFJAS, presented a initiative can change things for her and other artisans as well. e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016 THEME PAVILION Artistic Expressions from the Eastern Region Handlooms, decoratives, jewellery and much more...

Eastern Region States of India in a thematic representation Good platform to reskill artisans and with artisans, entrepreneurs and exporters at IFJAS, made a vibrant presence with handmade fashion jewellery and textile update them with new trends based accessories. The pavilion also featured many social enterprises that are working towards providing a better I am full of appreciation, both for the livelihood to artisans through skill development, design north eastern and eastern region theme assistance and training. The collection comprised eco - friendly pavilions at IFJAS 2016. This show has jewellery made from sittalpatti, provided a good platform to reskill jute, bamboo, etc. artisans as well as update them with Alok & Harsh from Kolkata trends and required product designs showcased clutches according to buyers’ specifications. embroidered with zardozi in Mr. O P Prahaladka Exhibitors have benefited with IFJAS animal patterns and primary Vice Chairman, EPCH and EPCH will continue with such colours like red and blue. This initiatives by engaging more number of was their first participation at artisans and exporters. To increase buyers' traffic, exporters should IFJAS and they appreciate the introduce more product categories, bring in more innovations fair as a good platform for new and focus on effective Visual Merchandizing. firms wishing to explore overseas business. This stall also included embroidered men's shoes with a bags and pouches in leather touch of velvet. and canvas along with key rings, besides stoles and New Bengal Art Jewellery, wooden earrings. represented by Arabinda Ray from Howrah, West Bengal, Samoolam, an NGO based offered imitation as well as brass in Gaya, Bihar, brought to and copper jewellery. This was IFJAS, crochet jewellery with their third participation at IFJAS. His stall various designs and colours. featured various Additionally, they offer crochet designs including an tasseled stoles, crocheted stationary intriguing necklace in copper with circular items, clutches and key rings as well as necklaces made of shaped designs strung in horn and bone mother of pearl and wooden blocks and a line in bags. They beads. Also available were necklaces, rings are collaborating with weavers in Bhagalpur to make stoles in and earrings with silk and are also planning to extend business in crochet work American diamonds assortments, said their representative. They primarily took studded on them. First shape to support lives of women and engage over 126 time participants at women on a continual basis. IFJAS, G.T. International Shampa Bhattcharya from Kolkata too had a range in represented by Tarak crochet with collection comprising crochet work on Nath had a collection in umbrellas, long crochet necklaces, horn bead necklaces

e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016 strung in leather, muslin Wave by Paromita Kundu showcased leather stranded fabric jewellery, organza bracelets, wooden hand painted jewellery, shell jewellery, flowered slippers, handmade silver jewellery and hand painted bangles. In crochet flowered slippers fashion accessories they displayed a range in bags, wallets and and stoles in cotton and stoles in various silk. They have around 17 colours and designs. commissioned artisans Sharmila & and are working on Mamta's stall starting their website. beautifully displayed a Kadam Haat that sustainable collection supports the livelihood of more in fashion jewellery than 100 artisans (around 72% and accessories. They offered a women), is based in Kolkata. This range in terracotta and quilled was their maiden participation at IFJAS but they have been a earrings, coconut jewellery, beaded necklaces, sittalpatti part of the show in 2015 wherein they shared about the dressers and chokers, alongside lace and shell products. Her training of grass root main focus is to produce bio -degradable products. artisans. The profit earned Pranabesh Sarkar's stall showcased a range in jute products, fabricated jute, jute necklaces and ear rings, jute thread necklaces, etc. The collection in necklaces was most engaging and eco- through Kadam Haat goes friendly. They also have necklaces to the Kadam NGO. With sittalpatti products as their forte, their with traditional dolls of Kolkata collection includes bags included in them. Complimenting this range were wooden with leather trims. They also combs, terracotta jewellery and jute bags. Though in business offer bamboo bags, since 15 years, this was coloured sling bags and tiny their 2nd participation at pouches in natural fibers IFJAS. alongside a selection in Sangita Gupta got along a sittalpatti table mats. range in crochet jewellery Well frequented by buyers with seeds and beads owing to a lustrous range in among embellishments, copper and gold plated jewellery crochet bags with fiber handles and was the stall of Diti Gold from an interesting range in paper Kolkata, represented by Aditi Seth. They specialize in 1 gram jewellery. Sonal Malhotra gold plated jewellery and of Crafts Kutir in this copper jewellery. They regional pavilion shared offered a varied collection about in big statement rings, helping bracelets, bangles, artisans by earrings, and gold plated providing chains. e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016 them a better livelihood through craft. She stresses that Crafts Kutir is a social enterprise, supporting education and Western Region artisans livelihood. This stall had very interesting organic jewellery made of plant seeds, small boxes and tie & dye textiles. She represented collectively, also offered a fabric based accessories in kalmakari, jute and even some made of recycled fabric. gather encouraging tidings

Among participants from the Western region were, The Homecrafted, a Pune based NGO that works primarily with 54 women artisans giving them a regular A R Enterprises source and R Enterprises set up of adjascent product-wise income. Their stall included an stalls with one displaying amalgam of crafts, right from crocheted bags with terracotta and metal to crocheted jewellery with necklaces, fiber handles in different colours, designs and shapes and earrings, anklets, hand accessories, key chains, pouches, hair the other with long crochet necklaces, Ganesha wall bands, booties as well as a range in pearl necklaces. This was hangings made of crystal balls, jute necklaces and clutches their first participation at IFJAS and they appreciated the made of crystal balls. Representative Alpana Shah shared her connect potential of this story of indulging in the craft - right from tailoring to trade platform. becoming an artisan to sharing her knowledge with others to foster up artisans. Contact Base from Kolkata works with grants from reputed organizations like UNESCO. They support several families through the craft. Their eye catching products included, dhokra jewellery of Kolkata, fabric jewellery with Arrkey Arts and Trading the art of Kamlamkari, Kantha embroidered folders and bags from Pune offered a wide as well as sitalpati range in imitation bags in different jewellery including the famed marathi nose ornament. Their shapes and sizes. German silver, coin and terracotta adornments sat pretty This was their first alongside unique rice(paddy) earrings. They received a good participation at IFJAS response and look forward to the next edition of IFJAS. and the artisans think it is a good initiative by EPCH.

e-CRAFTCIL • Issue 28, 2016