Innovative artefacts

SIPA'S `FAIR Trade Crafts Fair' offers a rich and eclectic variety of handcrafted functional decorative artefacts, textiles and readymades made by some 27 artisan groups which are part of the Federation of South India Producer Association. Helped by SIPA in the area of professional support and back-up services in marketing, training and management, the artisan groups have taken giant strides in income generation and self-reliance as well as craft and product development.

The results can be seen in many innovative craft items such as stunning animal forms crafted out of Australian teak, Gulzar Bee's palm leaf Christmas streamers, innovative blown glass artefacts and a wide range of vegetable dyed Etikopakka and Chennapatna toys and decorative items.

The `Fair Trade Crafts Fair' provides a perfect hunting ground for gifts for the festive season. The Manapad Palm Leaf Women's Society and Pulicat Palm Leaf Society bring to Chennai a colourful range of well-crafted palm leaf boxes, containers and baskets. Ideal both as gifts and gift wrapping, the palm leaf items are a welcome addition to festive shopping.

The Sandur Lambani Society showcases small gift items such as vegetable dyed Khadi mirror work bags, ghagra choli sets and skirts. Equally colourful are SEWA's large collection of vegetable dyed skirts, folders, handbags, pouches, chania choli sets, etc. Participating in the fair are many artisan societies from Pondicherry with products ranging from terracotta items to educational toys, marbled paper lamps, serpentine stone artefacts, paper mobiles and much else. Moderately priced, the craft products offer a wide choice both in craft skills and size.

Batik and very attractive Kalamkari bed linen, stone icons, lacquer work toys and decorative objects from Chennapatna and Etikopakka as well as papier mache icons and toys make a bright splash at the fair.

Also available are stone carvings, pretty woodcut panels as well as wrought iron lamp bases. SIPA'S `Crafts Fair' showcases some wonderful examples of `Convent' embroidered table linen edged with bobbin lace, perfect accessories for home elegance.

SIPA - Craft Links `Fair Trade Crafts Fair', on at Sri Sankara Hall, TTK Road, concludes on September 16.

P.C

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