All for the craftspersons

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Crafts Council of Karnataka is a nonprofit organisation started in Bengaluru in 1967 under the patronage of Ms. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.

It is also affiliated to the Crafts council of India and World Crafts council. They together further the mission to promote and support crafts of Karnataka and sustain livelihoods of the craftspeople The flagship event of Crafts Council of Karnataka is back once more this year with its 31st edition from Sept 28th to Oct 2nd, 2023 at Chitrakala Parishat.

Titled Vastrabharana – this annual exhibition promotes sale of handcrafted textiles and jewellery. This time, the edition is inspired by the Indian subcontinent’s history of producing spices, which were traded along the Silk Route, alongside fine textiles and other luxury goods.

The participating artisans and designers were, therefore, motivated to take inspiration from spices and engage with all of the senses through sight, smell, touch, taste and even hearing.

So, the highlights from the exhibition remain people who made name by working with the artisans and craftspersons and turned them into brands.

For instance, leheria from Badshah miyan, kota doriya from Tana Bana, Arookjan from Kashmir, Threads Per inch by Contemporary clothes, Unma designs by Weaves of Chhattisgarh, Kotpad sarees from Odisha, the Patch Work from Sujata - contemporary Assamese at The Mulberry Tree, Habib Design Studio's Benarasi weaves, Timbaktu weaves' khadi and cottons, The Handloom studio's Paithani and many more will jostle for visiotrs' attention.

Karnataka which is returning after many years, with new products Vanjre Ramesh and Asha Savla - Queen of Kasuti, mark their return.

In the jewellery colelction, Lac bangles from Madad Ali, Moha by Geetanjali, Aham Jewellery and many more would be a part of the show. Benglaoreans largely wait for the brands for their uniqueness as they are not available under one roof in the city.