Jewelry
Artisans have reinvented the ancient production techniques of tribal jewelry making in Orissa.
Skills Spotlight
Wood Craft
Woodcraft is the artistic practice of shaping and decorating wooden objects into diverse range of utilitarian and decorative handicrafts items.
Printing
Screen printing on textiles offers great freedom to the designer. Block printing is a versatile old craft used to print by hand on paper and fabric.
Papier Maché
Papier Maché animals, hangings and decorations are made in Orissa and painted in the traditional style of that region.
Dhokra
A traditional, tribal method for the wax casting of brass. Striking and unique, every piece is meticulously handcrafted without the assistance of modern technology.
Weaving
There are many weaving communities in East India and each has their special techniques, motifs and colors. Weaving is done in cotton and silk to make stoles, saris and bed linen.
Embossed Leather
A craft special to Bengal, hand embossing and coloring of leather offers wide scope to a designer for experiment.
Kantha Embroidery
The simplest stitch in embroidery – the running stitch – is used in different arrangements to create a beautiful variety of complex designs.
Fashion & Apparel
Jewelry
Artisans have reinvented the ancient production techniques of tribal jewelry making in Orissa.
See examples
Printing
Screen printing on textiles offers great freedom to the designer. Block printing is a versatile old craft used to print by hand on paper and fabric.
See examples
Vegetable Dyeing
Dyeing yarn and fabric with natural colors has been revived. There is room for much experimentation with colors and materials.
See examples
Tailoring
Sasha works with several women’s units who are very skilled in tailoring garments as well as bags.
See examples
Aari Embroidery
This is fine embroidery of Mogul origin, on a frame using an aari or awl, uses zari, sequins or beads. The artisans have a very fine eye for detail can make even a small flower come alive with their stitches.
Kantha Embroidery
The simplest stitch in embroidery – the running stitch – is used in different arrangements to create a beautiful variety of complex designs.
See examples
Textiles
Shibori
Shibori is a Japanese process of embellishing textiles by folding, crumpling, stitching, plaiting, plucking and twisting fabric before it is dyed.
Batik Printing
Our artisans use the brush and block batik dyeing technique to make stoles with beautiful designs. How will you use this creative wax process to embellish your product?
Printing
Screen printing on textiles offers great freedom to the designer. Block printing is a versatile old craft used to print by hand on paper and fabric.
See examples
Vegetable Dyeing
Dyeing yarn and fabric with natural colors has been revived. There is room for much experimentation with colors and materials.
See examples
Tailoring
Sasha works with several women’s units who are very skilled in tailoring garments as well as bags.
See examples
Dyeing
Dyeing of yarn and fabric in AZO free dyes, sometimes plain and sometimes using tie and dye techniques
Appliqué
Traditional to Orissa, this kind of appliqué was originally used to decorate festive tents and umbrellas.
Aari Embroidery
This is fine embroidery of Mogul origin, on a frame using an aari or awl, uses zari, sequins or beads. The artisans have a very fine eye for detail can make even a small flower come alive with their stitches.
Weaving
There are many weaving communities in East India and each has their special techniques, motifs and colors. Weaving is done in cotton and silk to make stoles, saris and bed linen.
See examples
Embossed Leather
A craft special to Bengal, hand embossing and coloring of leather offers wide scope to a designer for experiment.
See examples
Kantha Embroidery
The simplest stitch in embroidery – the running stitch – is used in different arrangements to create a beautiful variety of complex designs.
See examples
Handicrafts
Kalamkari Printing
Kalamkari is the traditional Indian craft of painting and printing on fabrics. It is a complex process that uses only natural dyes.
Horn Craft
Traditional artisans make a large range jewelry using brass, copper, glass beads and cotton threads.
Blue Pottery
Blue pottery is a technique introduced from abroad. It uses a simple process to create and shape clay that is formed into beautiful artifacts that are painted, glazed and kiln-fired.
Ceramics
New ceramic technologies are merged with heritage techniques to produce a range of fine, glazed ceramic products for decoration, toys, wall-hangings and household pottery.
Bell Metal
Bell metal is a hard bronze alloy used for making bells and ornaments.
Jewelry
Artisans have reinvented the ancient production techniques of tribal jewelry making in Orissa.
See examples
Wood Craft
Woodcraft is the artistic practice of shaping and decorating wooden objects into diverse range of utilitarian and decorative handicrafts items.
See examples
Wrought Iron
This original version of this craft is practised by tribal communities in Central India. The iron is heated and wrought into lively animal and human figures to make a variety of lamps.
Stuffed Toy Making
Women usually make soft toys and since the craft is easy to learn, a number of fun design variations are possible.
See examples
Papier Maché
Papier Maché animals, hangings and decorations are made in Orissa and painted in the traditional style of that region.
Natural Fiber Mats
Mats have traditionally been woven all over India with locally grown grass. Today, a range of exciting table accessories has evolved using this wonderful material and craft.
Folk Instruments
Musical instruments are made by and for the Baul community traditionally. Bauls are wandering minstrels of Bengal who sing mystic songs about life and the world around us.
Stationery
Notebooks and paper desk accessories are made using creative print techniques.
Jute Wall Hangings
Wall hangings made from jute transform the “golden fiber” into beautiful works of non-toxic, environmentally friendly art.
Coir
A traditional craft in Orissa, made from the fiber in the outer layer of coconuts. Coir is dyed and transformed into a variety of animals and flowers as toys or decorations.
Cane And Bamboo
Intricately woven into stools or murrahs and baskets of all types
Candle Making
Aromatic candles made in a variety of colors, shapes and fragrances with terracotta and glass containers
Basketry
Basketry is a rural craft intimately connected with everyday life. Bamboo, cane and grasses are woven into baskets, furniture, trays, floor mats, bags and fruit baskets.
Dhokra
A traditional, tribal method for the wax casting of brass. Striking and unique, every piece is meticulously handcrafted without the assistance of modern technology.
See examples