Udayagiri Handcrafted Decorative Showpiece of Sail Boat

This Sailor Shipin Wood is made of soft Nardi wood and Billa Nardi wood. This wood is soft and is preferred by many craftsman for its soft and smooth quality. This Sailor's Ship has a smooth finish with rounded edges and is safe for a even children to play with. The toy is made by a precision method of turning the wood on a lathe machine to form various shapes and attached using lacquer as a sealant. The lacquer finish also helps when vibrant colors are applied to the ship's attractive design. All these wood crafted items are made by rural artisans who have years of experience in the field. The colors applied on this Ship are vegetable dyes.

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Kalamkari

Kalamkari is an ancient style of hand painting done on cotton or silk fabric with a pen, using natural dyes. The word Kalamkari is derived from the Persian word ‘kalam‘ means pen and Kari‘ means craftsmanship. The art dates back to more than 3000 B.C. The fabric samples depicting Kalamkari art was found at the archeological sites of Mohenjo-Daro.

The process of making Kalamkari involves 23 steps. The natural process includes from bleaching the fabric, softening it, sun drying, preparing natural dyes, hand painting, to the processes of air drying and washing, the entire procedure is a process which requires precision and detail.

The cotton fabric used for Kalamkari is first treated with a solution of cow dung and bleach. After keeping the fabric in this solution for hours, the fabric gets a uniform beige color. After this, the cotton fabric is immersed in a mixture of buffalo milk and Myrobalans which help in fixing of colour and avoids smudging of dyes in the fabric as it is painted with natural dyes. Later, the fabric is washed under running water to get rid of the odor of buffalo milk. The fabric is washed twenty times and dried under the sun. Once the fabric is ready for painting, artists sketch motifs and designs on the fabric.

To create design contours, artists use a bamboo/tamarind or date palm stick pointed at one end like a pen. This pen is soaked in a mixture of fermented jaggery, iron filings powder, and water and used as outlining the designs. The Kalamkari artists prepare dyes using natural sources to fill colors within the drawing. Primarily the artists use natural colors like indigo, mustard, rust, black and green. Natural dyes are extracted from natural sources. The dyes are obtained by extracting colors from various roots, leaves, and mineral salts of iron, tin, copper, and alum. Black color is obtained by blending jaggery, water, and iron filings which they essentially use for outlining the sketches. Mustard or yellow is derived by boiling pomegranate peels, red hues are created from the bark of madder or algirin plants, blue is obtained from indigo a natural dye extracted from the plant (Indigofera Tinctoria) and green is derived by mixing yellow and blue together.

Motifs drawn in Kalamkari spans from birds, leaves, flowers, peacock, paisleys to divine characters of Hindu epics. This art is flourished in the south in Andhrapradesh primarily Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti area.

Kalamkari fabrics are always in trend. It is one of the prominent fabrics embraced by many. The fashion designers are creating new designs in accordance with the current fashion trends to accommodate and cater them from daily wear to occasional wear.

The women SHGs (Self Help Groups) supported by SERP (Society For Elimination of Rural Poverty) are into the business of making Kalamkari fabrics and many variants like (Sarees, Dress materials, pouches, Handbags, Jackets, Wall paintings, Purses, Home decor Wall plates, etc.) to name a few.

Kalgudi in collaboration with SERP-AP has brought their products on-line thus introducing the artisans to the digital market. Kalgudi has listed their products capturing intricate details, traceability, bulk order facilitation, etc. The products are live on Kalgudi, hence receiving orders from various geographical locations. Kalgudi thus created an alternate revenue stream for the rural women artisans. The payments are processed through Kalgudi secure payment gateway thus facilitating on-time payments. Customer support team facilitates the smooth delivery of the product by informing the status of the product and the tracking details through regular SMS. Kalgudi continues to empower rural women in sustaining their livelihood.

 www.emahila.org

Kaivalya Jute Creations Sucess Story

Jessy SHG, Kaivalya Jute Creations, Agiripalli village, Andhra Pradesh.

Jessy SHG was established by Mrs. Kalapala Amareshwari in 2015 with 10 other members who have similar skills and mindset, promoted by SERP-AP. Jessy SHG manufactures 50 varieties of jute products (personalised jute bags) under brand name ‘Kaivalya Jute Creations’ and used to market around Agiripalli. Most of the sales happen through local retail outlets and in festive exhibitions organised by the Govt Departments. These exhibitions generate sale enquiries as well, but Jessy SHG don't have a clue of how to handle logistics, payments, etc. At times, faced with shortage of raw materials forced to buy raw material at high rate which impacted their profits as well. Jessy SHG was aware of the fact that their products are purchased by end customers at very high prices and it is the market intermediaries who are getting benefited through this. Being a low tech micro entrepreneur, Jessy SHG can’t afford high marketing costs and also don’t have the technical know how on how to sell online.

Kalgudi team met Jessy SHG at Agiripalli to understand more about their products, prices and their unique selling point. Kalgudi team registered Jessy SHG on Kalgudi, collected all the statutory details required to trade online. In a short span of time, their brand “Kaivalya Creations” was created, digital catalog was ready with products, detailed product descriptions, images and customisation options like colour, size ,model etc. in case of bulk orders on the Kalgudi store.Jessy SHG was trained them on how to handle online sales like receiving order online, updating & tracking order status, updating prices and discounts, interacting with customers online, seeing product reviews, payment settlements, etc. Kaivalya Jute Bags Creations is now a label with global visibility reaching geographic locations which was unthinkable earlier. Now Jessy SHG is receiving orders on mobile, ordered products undergo quality checks, packed professionally, delivered to customers doorsteps. No worries about payments, they are settled directly to bank account. With a very little effort, Jessy SHG got more customers from far of locations, started earning more with orders on regular basis. Now, Jessy SHG team able to conduct business professionally, feels more empowered and proudly says “I have an online store.”

                 Your Purchase contributes & encourages
                                                  empowerment of rural women entrepreneur

Jute Bags, Jute Bags Online, Jute Handbags                www.emahila.org

Crochet/Crosia Clothing

Crochet fabric is a process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook. The name is derived from the French term crochet, meaning 'small hook'. The art of creating a fabric with the hook is called crocheting and the fabric is called crochet. This skill of making crochet started in the 17th century. It was considered as a home art and a hobby.

Crochet today is no longer just a hobby. It’s so much more stylish and wearable and, with so many new designers banking on crochet to incorporate this to everyday looks. They’re light, airy and they are in trend.

We all know that cotton has been used from times immemorial and despite the arrival of more complex artificial clothing fabrics, it continues to be used today as well. The crochet thread is made of thick cotton threads. They are weaved with bigger spaces between the threads to give an authentic look.

The rural women SHGs (Self Help Groups) supported by SERP-AP (Society For Elimination Of Rural Poverty) are into making crochet garments. Their products have many variants ranging from clothing to home furnishings. In clothing, they cater to all age groups (Skirts, Frocks, Long skirts, Jackets ) and many more. In home furnishings, they have Table Cloths, Bed Spreads, Cushion Cover etc.

Kalgudi in collaboration with SERP-AP lists and stages all SHG’s products online thus creating an alternate stream of income through digitalization. Their products are reasonably priced. Let’s empower and support rural women by purchasing them.

#Crochet #Clothing #Skirts #Jackets #Bedspreads #TableCloths                     www.emahila.org

Lakshmi's Kondapalli Toys' Story

Kondapalli toy making is a 400-year-old art form that is indigenous to the quaint village of Kondapalli. These toys are often made to represent aspects of rural India, Hindu deities or much simpler things like birds, animals, fruits, and vegetables. They are iconic with their brightly painted surfaces and they have an earthy and rustic aesthetic which is characteristic of such carefully handmade products.

The toy making process is elaborate. Firstly, a very specific wood called Tella Poniki is used. The wooden blocks from the tree are then carved into rough shapes. These shapes are covered in a special paste made of tamarind, wood, and sawdust. Once the correct shape is given and the paste has dried up, they are coloured in vibrant hues. The colours are made entirely with natural materials like marigold flowers for yellow, pomegranate for deep red and palm leaves for peach. The entire process uses natural materials which are locally sourced. In the recent past, enamel paints are also being used to make the colours more intense.

The art has survived for so long because it has existed as a family business and the skill to make these toys is still a matter of pride today. Parents would teach the kids and the roles were traditionally decided by gender. Boys and men would do the wood chopping, carving and smoothening. The girls and women would do the priming, painting, and finishing.

Although the toys themselves are endearing, the fact that this art form has survived for more than four centuries is an achievement in itself. The present generation of toy makers enjoys strong support from the government and TATA Trusts who are investing to promote the art. Not too long ago, a toymaker would have to struggle to get three square meals a day. Children would often have no choice but to forego school and help their parents to make more toys. As a consequence, toy making was the only skill in which the children were trained.

These toys which look so vivid and cheery came from the hands of people who have suffered generations to keep the trade alive.The recent push from the Andhra Pradesh government means that the toy makers no longer have to worry about being able to afford basic necessities. In 2007-2008, the Kondapalli toys were granted a Geographical identification tag which meant no other entity outside Kondapalli can make these products and claim originality. This paved the way for higher exports. The recent eMahila initiative, which is a combined effort of the Andhra Pradesh Government and TATA Trusts, has made their beautiful toys available on an e-commerce platform. This platform has successfully increased the demand for the toys by engaging a wider audience. Sri Kanakadurga DWCRA is the women Self Help Group (SHG) that makes the toys that are sold on this platform. These women who were once timid and unsure about themselves now see themselves in a different light. They are entrepreneurs, pioneers of a new generation of toy makers.

The recent push from the Andhra Pradesh government means that the toy makers no longer have to worry about being able to afford basic necessities. In 2007-2008, the Kondapalli toys were granted a Geographical identification tag which meant no other entity outside Kondapalli can make these products and claim originality. This paved the way for higher exports. The recent eMahila initiative, which is a combined effort of the Andhra Pradesh Government and TATA Trusts, has made their beautiful toys available on an e-commerce platform. This platform has successfully increased the demand for the toys by engaging a wider audience. Sri Kanakadurga DWCRA is the women Self Help Group (SHG) that makes the toys that are sold on this platform. These women who were once timid and unsure about themselves now see themselves in a different light. They are entrepreneurs, pioneers of a new generation of toy makers.

Kondapalli Toys, Kondapalli Dolls, Kondapalli Bommalu                www.emahila.org

Indian Ethnic Wear - Saree

                      

Saree/Sari has been on every Indian women's list of clothing. It has a permanent space in every Indian women's wardrobe. Saree is an evergreen fashion flavour of every season. There are different types of Sarees from Synthetic machine made to handwoven sarees. The Sarees which are handwoven is an ancient age-old tradition which dates back to many centuries. Handloom Cotton fabric have been evergreen due to eco-friendly and skin-friendly nature and less prone to fire accidents. Cotton fabric is the most preferred form of clothing in Semi tropical region. While silk is for occasional wear due to its heavy constituency and inherent party look. The handwoven/handloom sarees are losing their authenticity as they are at a higher price, it involves a lot of manpower and it takes 3 to 40 days to make a saree based on the design and the materials.

The Handlooms have many variants based on thread count and the place of weaving, to name a few are Mangalgiri, Venkatagiri, Pochampalli, Dharmavaram, Uppada, etc. The handweaving skill has percolated from generations to generations. The weavers are now facing a tough time because of the synthetic cloth revolution in the industry which is cost effective and low maintenance. The weavers have meagre knowledge on digital marketing and online platform for promotion of their products.

To uplift these weavers KALGUDI is working with SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Society) in Andhra Pradesh to bring all their products online under the brand name of eMahila. The products went live on Kalgudi platform and they are receiving orders from various locations.

Self Help Groups like Vyshnavi Handlooms, Prasanna Self Help Group, Suguna Self Help Group, APCO Amaravathi Handloom House, Madhuri Venkatgiri Handloom Sarees, Krushi DWCRA Products, K.Raghavendra Handlooms, Sivalingappa Gadwal Sarees, etc. to name a few are now online on KALGUDI platform.

Thus, Kalgudi brought the weavers online and increased their visibility and widened their market sphere.

Party Wear Sarees, Wedding Sarees, Kalamkari Sarees, Indian Bridal Sarees   www.emahila.org

Silver Jewellery

Silver is known as the poor man’s Gold. This precious metal is been into usage from time immemorial. Silver metal has significant health benefits hence been used across cultures for centuries. Silver has a proven track record as a powerful antimicrobial agent fighting infection and aiding in cold and flu prevention, wound healing, etc. Silver jewellery helps with internal heat regulation and circulation. Ancient Ayurveda recommends the usage of silver jewellery and cutlery to improve energy levels, balance in moods, blood circulation, body temperature balance, and maintain cleanliness and immunity. If silver jewellery turns blue when worn too long, indicates the presence of elevated levels of sodium in our body. Silver cutlery is used as it purifies the food and fights against harmful infection and disease hence the custom of gifting silver utensils is still live. Silver has anti-ageing properties hence used in cosmetics for skincare.

Researchers at the University of Southampton have proven that wearing silver ornaments helps to alleviate symptoms of arthritis. The study revealed that wearing silver ornaments helps reduce pain and hyperextension in rheumatoid arthritis and restore stability and range of motion in the inflamed joints.

Silver is a highly reactive metal so it is not advised to wear pure silver hence for making ornaments Sterling silver is used. Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and copper. Oxidized silver is a process that many jewellers use to give sterling silver a black patina by using Potassium Sulphate. It gives the jewellery an antique or tarnished look.

The rural women SHGs (Self-Help groups) supported by SERP-AP (Society for Elimination Of Rural Poverty) are into making oxidized silver jewellery for earning their livelihood. These handcrafted authentic silver jewellery are very attractive and crafted catering to all the age groups and occasions (Chokar, Long chains, Bracelets, earrings to name a few). Kalgudi in collaboration with SERP-AP brought their products online @ emahila.org. Let us all incorporate the habit of using Silver metal to reap health benefits and support rural women.

#Jewellery#Earrings#SilverJewellery#SilverEarrnings#AntiAgeing #OxidisedSilver #Arthritis #Immunity

www.emahila.org