Offering a pan-Indian view of the richness of textiles and crafts, Craft Council of India (CCI) has put together a line of crafts, garments and products at the Natural Dye Bazaar. Among the line of stalls on display are ajrakh, ikat, dabu block printing, kalamkari, bandhani, bagh prints, bhujodi, patola, natural fibres, lacquered wood, organic cotton, khadi, etc.

Talking to CE on the sidelines of the exhibition, Visalakshi Ramaswamy, executive council member, CCI, says that many craftspersons are award winners and that the bazaar is an attempt to encourage them to continue to be engaged with the crafts.She says, “If there are no opportunities or markets for them, these crafts are going to disappear, just like how many forms of crafts have disappeared so far. Tindivanam, which had indigo cultivation, has stopped it. However, on the other hand, in Gujarat, several craftspersons are continuing to use natural dyes. We want to encourage them and don’t want them to give it up.”.............Read more

Source web page: The New Indian Express