WEAVER ENGAGEMENTS
The Registry of Sarees has a three pronged approach to all sarees. Of these, we also believe that each saree has a story rooted in the artistry and skills passed down from master weaver to his apprentice, who was very often his child. Whole families relied on weaving and agriculture to sustain a way of life that was inherently rural. In the last few decades the wings of economic change have enticed weaver’s and their families away from their lives at the loom towards better incomes but unskilled jobs in urban India.
As urban saree wearers who delight in every type of weave, embroidery and print, the heart of our enterprise lies in keeping the handloom skill set alive in languishing or vanishing looms. It is very important to us that the dignity of labour in the creation of a beautiful drape is respected and encouraged. Proceeds of the sales of the sarees, go towards funding these weaver engagement programmes.
The artisans of these looms are then invited into the homes of our fellow saree enthusiasts to directly sell their sarees to consumers. The objective of this endeavor is to create a sense of confidence among saree weavers and re-ignite a pride that thrived in the days when our homes were visited by regular saree wallahs with sacks of sarees on their backs.
Our first initiative to this effect was conducted under the guidance of the Dastkari Haat Samhiti who used their years of experience and dedication to the cause of the humblest weaver to create the humble gamcha saree.
Following the Dastkari Haat Samiti Tour to Fulia and Nobodwip in May 2015, the Samiti under the guidance of Smt Jaya Jaitly shared a photo documentation of their journey called Handloom Landscapes. Following this, a project was initiated to develop saree weaving among Gamcha weavers of Nobodwip with the support of The Registry of Sarees. The objective of the project was two fold – to increase the livelihood of weavers in the region and to promote the wearing of sarees with love and pride, and the selling of these sarees directly to saree patrons.
At the same time Dastkari Haat Samiti also encouraged a Phd student from NIFT, Hemalatha Jain to recreate an old handloom weave – the Patteda Anchu which had practically died out on North Karnataka.
Hundred sarees in each technique and style, the Gamcha and the Patteda Anchu, were brought to Bangalore in April 2016 for pop-ups hosted by four handloom patrons.
Both the Gamcha and the Patteda Anchu sarees were extremely well received. Moreover the education received on both the weaves and the knowledge sharing of the journey it took to bring these weaves from the looms to saree lovers was very enriching.
It is our primary objective to repeat the experience as often as possible. We invite you to join us. If you would like to be a part of our weaver engagement programme in anyway please reach out to us at ahalya@theregistryofsarees.com