Artisans of KRV Class 2006-07 present spring-summer 2007 collections

07 Dec '06

2 min read

Kala Raksha, a grass roots social enterprise based in Sumrasar, this year launched India's first institution of design for artisans.

For one year, twenty five artisans from weaving, block printing, Bandhani and Rabari embroidery traditions of Kutch studied with some of the finest designers from India and abroad. Learning colour, concept, and market trends, they acquired knowledge and skills and applied these directly to the hand skills in which they are experts.

From 21-26 November 2006, the graduates of the class of 2005-06 proudly presented their collections for spring-summer 2007 on the beautiful rural Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya campus in Tunda Vandh, Mundra Ta, Mundra. The first ever professional collections completely designed and produced by traditional artisans of Kutch included home furnishing, accessories and garments in themes nature and culture.

The collections were juried by eminent experts in art and craft, including Ashoke Chatterjee, Gulshan Nanda, Jaya Jaitley, Laila Tyabji, Subrata Bhowmick, Darshan Shah, Debbie Thiagarajan, and Sheela Lunkad who gave very valuable, professional feedback to the graduating students.

The 4 day mela was inaugurated by the convocation ceremony, presided by the Maharao and Maharani of Kutch and followed by a concert of traditional Kutchi music. On 24 November, the student work was showcased in an elegant fashion show choreographed by Utsav Dholakia.

Days saw local people trying their hands at block printing, pottery and embroidery, with guidance from artisans in the KRV studios, enjoying folk songs, bhajans, culture programs and Kutchi food. Over 6,000 people attended the celebration and much appreciated the exciting new craft designs. The students earned over RS 1,00,000 in direct sales- unprecedented in a rural Kutch event. Orders were placed for about the same amount, giving encouragement to the new designers.

Sadly, the celebration was marred by the fact that the lush campus, its dormitories, studios and exhibition hall all painstakingly constructed in traditional building techniques—as well at the world famous Rabari village, Tunda Vandh, are slated to be the site of two large power plants.

Kala Raksha

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