Introduction To Timeless De Tour Timeless De Tour is a celebration of crafts that have been neglected for a long time from all over India. Crafts that need to be revived. The students from the Fashion Department have traveled across the country to study these crafts and document them. Timeless De Tour is a culmination of all the hard work where the textile crafts studied, have been showcased in a fashion show and the non-textile crafts have been given unique Brand Identities and marketing strategies to help promote them. This booklet will help give you a brief of each craft studied.
Kantha is an indigenous household craft, practiced by the rural women in West Bengal.
Kantha
Embroidery
The origin of Kantha traces its history to a period not less than a thousand years. Its images reach back to even earlier sources, pre- and post- Vedic. Some symbols such as the tree of life, the swirling cosmos, and the sun are taken from primitive art.
The metal embroidery of Rajasthan is said to have originated during the Mughal era, and then spread to Rajasthan.
Gota Patti
Metal Work
Traditionally, Gota ribbons were woven with a wrap of flattened gold and silver wire and a weft of silk/cotton thread. Gota can be cut into small pieces and folded in the shape of leaves. This is known as gota patti.
The name Kalamkari translates as pen (kalam) work (kari) in Hindi/Urdu.
Kalamkari
Painting
Kalamkari refers to a method of painting natural dyes onto any fabric with a bamboo pen. In the 20th century, there had been lesser demand for exporting Kalamkari paintings. Therefore the artisans suffered and most of them turned to other professions.
The earliest ‘Patuas’ derived the themes for their paintings from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, various legends, myths and religious stories.
Patachitra
Painting
The traditional decoration called Patas, used under the throne of Lord Jagannath and on the three chariots during the annual RathYatra festival, are exclusively made in Raghurajpur. Patachitra are paintings that are inspired by stories from history and depict them in a unique manner.
Originally, Chanderi sarees were woven using handspun cotton warps and wefts.
Chanderi
Silk
After the Industrial Revolution in the 1930s, Chanderi weavers discovered Japanese silk and began substituting this in the warps in cotton sarees. Chanderi fabrics are known for their sheer texture, light weight and a glossy transparency.
Ajrakh printed cloth is one of the softest textiles to wear against the skin, as it’s fibers soften during the rigorous process of printing.
Ajrakh
Textile
Ajrakh literally meant aaj ke din rakh, or ‘keep it for today’ because that is what the process is. At every stage of the tedious dying process, the fabric should dry for three to four days. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the major hubs for this kind of printing.
Kolhapuri Chappals are famous handcrafted footwear made in Kolhapur, a town in Maharashtra
Kolhapuri
Chappals
Kolhapuri chappals are made from processed leather. Some of the traditional designs of Kolhapuri chappals include Kachkadi, bakkalnali, and pukari. These chappals are stout, sturdy, day long usable.
Traditionally used to make harnesses for camels and horses, musical instruments, storage containers and footwear.
Leather
Cut work
Today the craftsmen make objects of modern utility, such as mobile covers, bags, stationery and lamp shades. Tools like Karpa and Rapi are used to cut the leather into the required shapes. Smaller holes are made with uniquely shaped metal punches.
Glass is a wondrous substance. It can be strong or fragile, transparent or opaque. In the hands of an artist, glass can be molded, cast, blown and incorporated with other materials to create a myriad of forms.
Glass
Handicraft
Glass moulding requires immense skill and patience. The artists who usually create masterpieces of Glass in India, work under very dangerous conditions and for a minimal wage.
Filigree delicate
Work is a Romantic and art of twisted wire designs.
Filigree
Work
It refers to laces like decoration using gold or silver wire. The wires or threads in filigree jewellery are often intricately intertwined or bent into swirls or rosettes. This highly skilled art form is more than 500 years old and is traditionally done by local artisans on the Eastern shores of Orissa.
Kashphool is a perrineal grass growing upto three meters in height with spreading rhizomatous roots.
Kashphool
Craft
Kasphool straws are coiled and stiched to make various products. Artisans are normally seen making Water Bottle Carrier, Jewellery, Hats, etc. it is one of the most used crafts during Durga Puja and other cultural events held in Kolkata.
The famous
town for
of Sawantwadi handmade wooden
is toys.
Wooden
Toys
The designs of the fruits and vegetables are most commonly seen and reflect the local culture. Since it is a farmers’ belt, the wooden objects mirror the main occupation of the region. The toys are all manually operated and do not use technology to improve their funcion. The beauty is in the simplicity.
The term azulejo comes from the Arabic word az-zulayj, meaning “polished stone.�
Azulejos
Tile Work
This Tile Art for originated from Portugal and is now flourishing in parts of Goa. These tiles are used to decorate everything from walls of churches and monasteries, to palaces, ordinary houses, park seats, fountains, shops, and railway stations.