Local crafts and global designs open new realms in jewellery

At Abhushan — Design Dialogues in Jewellery,organised by the World Crafts Council and Ministry of Textiles,craftsmen mingled with designers and curators from Europe,North America,Latin America,Africa and Asia Pacific.

The three-day symposium creates an interface through platforms like seminars,exhibitions,presentations and craft exchange programmes.

A workshop with international experts offering their design concepts to indigenous craftsmen was held over the last week. Designers and curators offered tips on how to develop contemporary designs on eco-friendly materials like natural fibres,wood,bead,paper,wire and other recycled material,generally used by traditional Indian craftsmen.

The works have now been put on display and for sale at a crafts bazaar at Hotel Ashok. The bazaar showcases a broad range of jewellery using banana fibre from Tamil Nadu to silver work from Jharkhand,silver filigree,beads and jute from West Bengal among stalls from Bangladesh,Malaysia,Ghana,Zambia and other countries.

“The programme aims to create an interactive moment when traditional Indian crafts persons and experts will join their creative heads to analyse and apply a range of international design concepts taking the traditional form to a new,wearable realm,” said Nina Kothari,chairperson,Abhushan.

Sudha Ravi,member,Abhushan Committee and World Crafts Council,said: “This has been an important platform bringing together craftsmen,designers and the market. It brings traditional craftsmen to national prominence,which is significant for sustainable development. Tourism,agriculture and industry are all linked to crafts but in our country it has not been recognised as an industry. We need to move away from high-end jewellery and promote our traditional crafts jewellery.”

Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran,who attended the inaugural ceremony,said: “The export of Indian handicrafts was Rs 11,224 crore in 2009-10. This year,until January,export has been Rs 8,614 crore,recording a growth of 18 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2009-10… It is estimated that there are around 65 lakh artisans engaged in this sector. We hope the International Jewellery Summit will provide a platform for collaboration of artisans and designers from all over the world and synergize ideas to produce new,attractive and outstanding business as well as innovative marketing strategies.”

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the summit will provide opportunities for growth as well as economic independence of crafts persons.