August 22, 2023
Indian Artisans have been using natural materials from their surroundings and skilfully converting them into utility products for centuries. Be it the kulhad for tea or grass baskets for storage they use minimum resources to craft these. Many handmade products are crafted using traditional techniques that require minimal energy consumption, contributing to lower carbon emissions compared to mass-produced goods.
July 28, 2023
Endless debates on how to double farmer income, have yielded little over the years. According to experts, there are only two ways to increase income. Reduce the input cost or increase the selling price of products sold by farmers. Efforts have shown that both strategies are unviable or work only at limited levels.
July 18, 2023
The Global Handicraft market is on a fast track. The market stood at a value of USD 704.7 billion in 2022. Interestingly, the Global Computer Hardware market is similar sized. Something, that is tracked and chased by lot of my friends.
January 31, 2022
Mon Ami undertakes craft related projects that result in proved livelihood for its for its beneficiaries. Companies fund project and part of the funds are used for administration, training, and other purposes. A part of the fund is used to produce craft items which when sold generate both revenue and working capital for the beneficiaries. Once the beneficiaries are trained, they can further train other people to improve their livelihoods.
January 10, 2022
Crochet, the seemingly effortless counting and repeating of a basic stitch, to create lace-like, intricate products, has captured the imagination of crafters through the ages. However, as craftspeople have followed the same system of product development for years, designs have gradually become redundant, and could spell doom for the future of this craft.
March 9, 2021
In India, craft traditions have always been produced in a sustainable manner. Having evolved within local communities, traditional knowledge has been passed on for generations, making them resource-efficient and in-sync with local ecosystems. For example, the Ajrakh technique of hand block printing with natural dyes, the moonj baskets woven from moonj grass in the villages of Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand and kala cotton production in Kutch, Gujarat, where cotton is cultivated using minimum water and pesticides free.
February 16, 2021
India is galloping towards recovery on account of stronger than expected recovery post pandemic. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) projection to 11.5 percent from 8.8 percent. The Union Budget 2021, increased allocation to the Ministry of Women and Child Development by 16 percent, allocating a sum of Rs. 24,235 crores.
February 6, 2021
Crafters work collectively to produce designs that have withstood the test of time. Whether it’s the marble carvers from Agra, Kanchipuram silk weavers, toymakers of Channapatna, filigree artisans of Cuttack, block printers of Ajrakhpur or textile handicrafters of Bhuj, the power of communities crafting together is undeniable. However, what these crafters lack is the ability to take designs to the next level. With no formal training in design or skill development, they are reliant on external support to help them reinvent their craft to make it relevant to contemporary needs.
January 6, 2021
India is built on a culture of craft and weaving, as is evident by the archaeological discovery of a small shred of cotton cloth stuck to a pottery shard dated back to the Harappa and Mohenjo-daro settlements of 2600 BC. Women in particular are intrinsically linked to heritage arts and crafts.
December 3, 2020
Crochet, the art of creating a textured fabric using yarn and a single hook, has been carried on since the 16th century. Skilled hands make intricate designs through the hypnotic in & out movement of a hook, therapeutic in itself, while finished products lend themselves to an immense sense of personal accomplishment.