DO INDIAN HANDICRAFTS INCLUDE UPCYCLING?

There’s no doubt that up-cycling, re-using, recycling and sustainability has been part of our Indian culture since time immemorial. None of the scraps where discarded. Whether its through patchwork from waste fabrics or through re-usage of cotton threads from old sarees or extraction of silver from yarns of old banarasi sarees- our heritage crafts have always involved sustainable practices and been true to its values. From ancient times, the indigenous intellect of Indians has ushered them to creatively experiment with several methods of working with limited resources, waste management and using the raw materials in a sustainable manner. It brilliantly accentuates cooperation and co-living of nature and our everyday lifestyle.

 

Let’s consider thatched roofs, rectangular cots (charpais), brooms from dry grasses-(jhadoos) and four legged small stools (modas) woven out of grass, natural fibres  and raw materials from forests or construction material made of bamboo. These have been conventional tools for centuries that have been created by humans. By creatively giving shape and form to sustainable materials, daily utilities have been turned into valuable realities which are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

Women in Bengal have been indulged in the craft of kantha since ages. It was initially a women-centric craft which includes extracting cotton yarns from discarded sarees and utilizing them in stitching soft small blankets for new born babies. Nowadays, the craft of kantha also involves apparels from patchwork which are entirely done by cutting and strategically arranging scrap fabrics, then stitching them together. The Khasi community from Meghalaya, has meticulously mastered the art of creating bridges from living roots. They are made from aerial roots of banyan trees. Even, the initiation of pottery and earthenware can be traced back to the era of the Indus Valley civilisation , which is evident of the fact that crafts created by re-using nature are more than thousand decades old.

It is with this similitude that we look towards several handcrafted wonders adorned with grass, fibre and other waste, originating from varied and broad Indian landscapes. These not only add a touch of value and ethic to our mundane lifestyle, but also accentuate the relevance of eco-friendly consumption, creation and the requirement to protect the environmental ethics in the current scenario.

Handicraft is a mandatory sector for production and exporting commodities for developing countries like India and other third world countries. The surge in British and European markets for home decor, artefacts and an increased demand in global commodities has lined new opportunities for artisans and craftsmen. In our land of heritage and culture, handicraft industry has been a major source of income for rural people specially the ones from artisanal communities. Crafts employ over six million craft’s persons which incorporates women and people from backward classes of the society. If the pre-existing problems of the handicraft industry can be worked upon by the mutual consent of the Indian government and the handicraft exporters, then it will be highly beneficial for boosting and promoting the sustainable practices through traditional crafts and thus carry forward the legacy.