Handcrafted in India and presented by
Handcrafted in India and presented by
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About the Collection Dastkari Haat Samiti in collaboration with Made with Love In India proudly brings to you the Artisanal Handmade Mask Range, made by artisans from across India, spanning various schools of traditional craft, that reflect the rich cultural heritage and diversity of India. Artisans have put their innate creativity to work in making these beautiful handmade cotton masks that protect and, as beautiful pieces of art, add the bit of cheer we could all use in these difficult times! The collection spans various art and craft forms, such as, Madhubani from Bihar, Pattachitra from Odisha, Gamcha from West Bengal and the North East, Ajrakh from Gujarat, and Cheriyal from Telangana. Each mask is an expression of the distinct cultural identity of the region they come from.
Why support this collection? - The artisan communities are among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of them earn on a per-work basis and have no safety net to fall back on. With physical markets shut, flow of goods restricted, and several large scale advance orders being cancelled, the need for assistance is urgent. Sending in orders for their goods is the surest way to help artisans sustain their livelihood and support their families. - Many a traditional artform are on the brink of being forgotten, due to advent of industrialisation and the problems faced by the artisans during Covid-19 have now accelerated their decline. Wearing these masks will be a small step to help keep these vulnerable craft traditions stay alive. - The hand-made, double-layered cotton masks, some dyed using only natural materials, have minimal impact on the environment. These reusable masks also prevent avoidable additions to the already growing landfills! - Artisanal masks are sure to add a bit of cheer to people around you in these challenging times. If this is the new normal, let’s choose to add some grace and beauty to the new normal.
Madhubani paintings are a traditional art form native to the Mithila region, spanning the north Indian state of Bihar and some regions of Nepal. Legend has it that it originated around the 5th century BCE when King Janaka asked his subjects to adorn their walls to celebrate his daughter Sita’s wedding to Prince Rama (of the Hindu epic – Ramayana). Paintings often illustrate the hopes and dreams of the locals and are characterized by geometrical patterns, vibrant colours, two-dimensional imagery and the depiction of natural elements the sun, moon and flora and fauna, with a backdrop of local rituals and traditions.
Madhubani is inherently a social and public art form - it adorns the walls of homes, schools, railway stations, temples, such as the famous Ram Janaki temple in Madhubani district among others. Paintings are predominantly made by women and the art form has aided the empowerment and recognition of women in an otherwise conservative region. Traditionally, paints for Madhubani art are made with powdered rice mixed with plant-based natural dye pigments, with fingers or twigs serving as brushes. Today, you’ll find Madhubani art on a wide range of mediums like clothing, interior decor, upholstery, among others.
Artists/Organisations
About The Masks
Remant Kumar Mishra
● Cotton ● Double Layer ● Hand-painted
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
Pattachitra, literally cloth-picture, is a traditional, cloth-based style of scroll painting, originating from the east Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. It’s known for its intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it.
Like in other Indian art forms, Pattachitra painters have traditionally used vegetable and mineral colours for their vibrant pieces. In Odiya Pattachitra, the paintings are also done on walls, or as palm leaf engravings.
Pattachitra is characterised by its unique style of contrasting vibrant hues of orange, red, and yellow with deep blacks derived from burnt coconut shells and brilliant conch-shell derived whites. The background is more often than not decorated with flowers and all Pattachitra paintings are given decorative borders.
The region surrounding the historic Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, is known for villages dedicated to the art form, where the craft is passed on from generation to generation and most all villagers are skilled in the art form. The craft is seen as a spiritual act with works often used in the Jagannath temple.
Artists/Organisations
About The Masks
Apindra Swain
● Cotton ● Double Layer ● Hand-painted
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
Gamcha is a traditional checkered handloom cotton textile, typically made as towels, from the eastern parts of India, especially West Bengal and Assam. Often worn on the shoulder or tied around the head, the gamcha is a highly utilitarian object that helps deal with the humid weather, given its ability to absorb water and dry quickly.
They have a cultural significance too in the region and a new one is often gifted to guests on special occasions like weddings. While the entry of powerlooms and synthetic textiles saw the decline of this industry, the renewed interest in sustainable fashion offers a glimmer of hope to the revival of Gamcha weaving and the use of it in various mediums like sarees, stoles, bags and the likes.
Gamchas are characterised by the checkered patterns and are made in a wide range of vibrant colours.
Artists/Organisations
About The Masks
● Rangila Dhaga ● Rajesh Roy
● Handwoven Cotton ● Double / Triple layer
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
Ajrakh is an ancient block printing method that is known to have originated during the Indus valley civilization and continues to be practised in the Kutch district of Gujarat, Barmer in Rajasthan, and Sind in Pakistan.
Unlike other forms of block printing where prints are applied directly to the cloth, the process of creating an Ajrakh fabric involves multiple steps of resist application, dyeing and block printing, leading to a complex design of geometric shapes and colours!
The art form is distinguished by its use of intricate geometric and floral patterns applied by hand-carved wooden blocks, typically in red and blue. Ajrakh craft products are mostly made with natural, vegetable and mineral dyes, with Indigo and Madder being the prominently used dyes.
Artists/Organisations
About The Masks
● Abdulrazak Khatri ● Dastkari Haat Samiti ● Sewa Kala Srushti
● Cotton ● Double Layer ● Block Print
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
Premium Masks Tassel Ties
* Assorted range. Colours & Designs might vary.
Cheriyal Cover Page
Cheriyal paintings are an art form that finds its origins in that Cheriyal village of Telangana state in southern India. The format of these paintings is very similar to comic strips and they were largely used as a visual aid for travelling storytellers to educate and entertain the local population of the Telangana region.
The advent of radio and television in India around the 1950s saw the decline of this 400-year art form and today it is at the brink of extinction, with only a handful of artists continuing to practise this vibrant artform.
Drawing inspiration from daily life, local traditions and Hindu mythology, these paintings are characterised by the prominent use of red colour, fine lines and highly stylized character drawings.
Artists/Organisations
About The Masks
D.Vaikuntam
â—? Cotton â—? Double Layer â—? Hand-painted
Dastkari Haat Samiti is a national association of Indian craftspeople, consisting of individual artisans, family units, Co-ops, self-help groups, associations and societies. We believe in sustaining traditional skills and livelihoods and in ensuring the continuity of India’s cultural heritage through crafts, arts and textiles by according respect and dignity to practitioners of handwork. Our work centres around raising the social and economic status, along with widening the perspective of craftspeople, by infusing innovation and introducing new modes of creativity, so that they can be part of the contemporary world and global marketplace. We do this through a range of initiatives that include, but are not limited to training, design interventions, collaborative projects, policy advocacy and exhibitions.
India is a land of rich and diverse culture. Indian art and handicrafts reflect this unique DNA in more ways than one. Made with Love in India is an initiative to celebrate that very distinct DNA of Brand India and bring Indian crafts to British homes. While tourists coming into India are fortunate to experience the magic of Indian culture and take back a piece of India in the form of a range of Indian handcrafted goods, people outside India are yet to experience what India has to offer. In our small way, we @ Made with Love in India would like to serve as a window to the world and help them discover the rich range of handmade products made in India and have access to them at affordable prices. We work closely with artisans, self-help groups and artisan clusters to develop contemporary products even while the essence of the traditional art is not lost in the process. As part of our commitment to shaping ourselves as a Social Enterprise we pay artists upfront and do not engage in bargaining, so they can earn a fair remuneration for their invaluable skills and endeavour to keep the art alive by passing on the skills to the next generation.
For bulk/corporate enquiries & orders, please contact:
INDIA
Dastkari Haat Samiti +91-011-46084883 dastkarihaat@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/dastkarihaatsamiti
Ravikumar V.
U.K
+44-7776032151/+44-7901204246 ravi@madewithloveinindia.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/MadewithloveinIndia.co.uk
For retail orders, place your orders @ www.madewithloveinindia.co.uk