CHENNAI: Generation after generation, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fathers and daughters occupy the entryways of their houses or factories to set up their traditional pit loom. This is a common sight in towns and villages where traditional artisans reside. They spend months, sometimes years, giving shape and design to a fabric.
Bringing these artists, their labour, and their stories to namma Chennai is The Craft Council of India (CCI), a volunteer-run organisation engaging in building awareness about artisans and their crafts. “The mission of CCI is to work towards sustaining India’s crafts and artisans. It helps ensure growth for artisanal communities by creating economic opportunities and bringing them to the forefront,” shares Jayasri Samyukta, executive committee member of CCI.
For more than two decades, under the banner of ‘Textile Show’, CCI has been organising an exhibition-cum-sale twice a year where Chennaiites can shop for Khadi, Matka Silk, Chanderi, Kalamkari, Kantha, Shibori, Patolas, and Bandini. “In this bi-annual textile show, CCI brings together the best of Indian artisans, weavers, designers, and entrepreneurs working with craft. One can experience the joyful amalgamation of India’s ancient artisanal skills and the creativity of the designers, blending these textiles seamlessly into contemporary aesthetics and lifestyles,” she adds.
While the first exhibition focusses on spring and summer collections, the latter is an autumn and .