Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms practiced majorly in Odisha and West Bengal. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit word ‘patta’, meaning cloth, and ‘chitra’, meaning picture. This art form is believed to have originated as early as the 12th century and is one of […]
Discovering Artforms
The Craft of Kutch Embroidery
One of the most distinctive and easily identifiable craft styles of India – Kutch work or Kachchhi embroidery derives its name from the source of its origin – the Kutch region of Gujarat. It is characterised by its use of bright colours, mirrors and beads and intricate and extensive embroidery that embellishes the entire fabric […]
The Craft of Kantha
Kantha embroidery is an indigenous household craft that is now an art form – due to its uniqueness, its ability to tell a story and as a form of personal and artistic expression. A craft form practised by rural women in Bengal and Orissa, Kantha embroidery originated as a way of recycling old or unused […]
The Heritage of ‘Ikat’
It’s hard to miss the popularity of the “ikat” weave. Found in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America , this hand-woven fabric is used for apparel, furnishing and more. The “ikat” weave is much appreciated for its beauty alone, but also because it’s complicated pattern is difficult to craft, especially when several colours are part […]
The Warli Art Tradition
Our country has a rich tradition of folk art – which originates from tribes in different parts of India. In the North Sahyadri mountain range of Maharashtra lives the Adivasi tribe by the name of ‘Warli ’ Known to be amongst the largest tribes in India in terms of numbers and living close to the […]
The Joy of Macramé
Macramé is a French word that means ‘knot’. A century-old knotting technique that was prevalent in the 1970s as home decor trend. It is a form of textile art which weaves you into its story since it’s purely done by hand, without needles, and by weaving threads or cords together into simple as well as […]
Guest Post – Magic of Hand Block Printing!!
One of the ways India as a country expresses itself is through its rich and exquisite diversity of Textiles. It’s a blend of exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, magnificent colors and finest quality. One of the techniques of creating beautiful textiles is the hand block printing. It is one of the oldest Indian craft forms in which […]
“Love for Lac”
Lac jewelry also referred to as lacquer jewelry originated in West Rajasthan and has since then gained popularity across India. It’s easy to find Lac jewelry in the local markets & old streets of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur etc. in versatile designs, which adds uniqueness to its beauty. Lac bangles in particular are considered auspicious for […]
Catching the Afghan Jewellery Trend
We’ve been noticing the trend of statement jewellery crafted in ‘ Afghan’ – style designs for over two years now that even today continues to be quite popular. Be it in new, vintage or museum quality design and finish – one makes a statement when wearing Afghan – style jewellery. From the by- lanes of […]
Copper Cool
Copper is an essential mineral and is also found as a metal alloy in a reddish-orange color. It exists both in plant life and in the human body. Copper and its use dates back over 10,000 plus years. Pure copper is extremely soft and malleable and is combined with brass and bronze, for use in […]