Amongst the art and craft traditions of our country that have stood the test of time and continue to evolve in a contemporary avatar – is the craft of Block Printing. Block Printing is the process of hand printing on a piece of paper or fabric using a carved wooden block dipped in dye or […]
Discovering Artforms
The Charming Art of Hoop Embroidery
What is Embroidery? To put it in simple words, it’s the art of creating decorative designs and motifs on fabric using just a needle and thread. The magic is in the different types of stitches and their use in creating a finished piece of Embroidery – which can be as rough or fine as one […]
The Timeless Trend of Temple Jewelry
The timeless and classic allure of Temple Jewellery – has over time been an intrinsic part of a woman’s jewelry box – especially in the Southern part of India. Inspired by historic architecture, paintings and statues of temples, gods and goddesses, South Indian Temple Jewellery is traditionally made of gold and embedded with precious gems […]
Chanderi’s Gossamer Weaves
It’s fan following includes craft aficionados, movie stars, and folk like you and me. The timeless Chanderi – be it in the form of a sari, or fabric or a wrap now has a special place in our hearts and our ethnic Indian wardrobe. The weave is from a small town of the same name […]
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 […]
Following the Chamba Rumal Craft Trail
Ensconced in a deep valley next to the Ravi river, the town of Chamba still remains charmingly untouched by modern life – with its ancient temples, heritage homes, palaces and an amazing museum that documents the history and culture of the area. Founded in 920 AD when Raja Sahil Varman moved his capital here from […]
The Art & Craft of Batik
The Craft of Batik is an ancient and complex art that has been practiced for over2.000 years with its origins in Southeast Asia. The word ‘Batik’ actually means ‘wax writing’. It is a technique used to print and dye fabric by applying a coat of wax, then dyeing it in different colours so that the […]
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 […]
The story of Pattachitra
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 […]
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 […]