From time immemorial, India is known for its customs. As far as art and culture are concerned, India features amongst the topmost rated culturally rich countries in the world. The handicrafts of India have been loved and respected worldwide and have left everyone awestruck. Many traditional arts and crafts of India are dying due to modernization and technological developments. From time immemorial, the handicrafts of India have been loved and respected worldwide and have left everyone awestruck. Blessed with an affluent cultural heritage that’s reflected within the intricacy of its handicrafts, India is surely a true blue shopper’s paradise. These Handmade tales of India are on the verge of extinction and getting replaced machine made products. Many rural people still earn their livelihood from their creative pieces of art and India has still managed to preserve its artisans, its art and its handicrafts. The tradition of crafts in India has grown around religious values, needs
of the common people and also the needs of the ruling elites. Indian crafts are extremely old, and therefore the incontrovertible fact that they’re still preserved today is a solid proof of their quality and significance. Indian states reflect the diverse history and religion. The craft of each
state in India reflects the different culture and tradition.

Block Printing in Bagru Town

One such example of old yet preserved craft is Block Printing of Bagru, a small township in the district of Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is famous for its ‘signature’ in the field of block printing and natural dyes. The livelihood of the majority is artisanship. It is a labour-intensive process that requires a lot of skilfulness, time and tolerance power of artisan. The wooden blocks of teak-wood are used for printing the design which is soaked in oil overnight and then washed before putting it to use. It is done by printing dark or coloured motifs on a cream or dyed background. The method starts by getting ready the fabric to finished written materials through their endemic strategies. Motifs having some specialty area unit transferred onto the light-weight colored background with wood blocks following 2 designs direct and resist vogue. Hand block printing has been recognized as an old craft that is here through generations in different clusters in the country. ‘Bagru’ print is
that kind of centuries-old traditional art of hand block printing that is still alive. The unique and splendid efforts of artisans of using these wooden blocks in their own peculiar way and uses indigenous methods of printing are known as “Bagru printing”. Though this method is facing issues against the threat of globalization, this exotic art of creation is needed to be inspired within the gift context of environmental consciousness. Thus, hand block-printing is an environmentally friendly art that deserves appreciation and recognition, and one that showcases the beauty of nature at its best.

The Famous Chanderi Fabric

Chanderi is a traditional ethnic fabric characterized by its lightweight, sheer texture and fine luxurious feel. Chanderi fabric is produced by weaving in silk and golden Zari in the traditional cotton yarn that results in the creation of the shimmering texture. The fabric borrowed its name from the small town Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh where traditional weavers practice the art of producing textured sarees in cotton and silk decorated with fine zari work. Creation of unique buttis or motifs and the transparent or sheer texture of Chanderi fabric are the two prime characteristics that distinguishes it from other handloom fabrics. The Chanderi fabrics are known for their sheer texture, light weight and a glossy transparency that sets them apart from textiles produced en masse in factories. Traditionally, the fabric was woven using very fine hand spun yarn, which accounted for its delicate texture. So its quality, designs colors and motifs would be appropriate to cater the demands of an elite class family.
Since ancient times, Chanderi fabric holds a special position in the Indian handloom industry. Traditionally, this fabric was used to weave the nine yard drapes. But now, with fusion of traditional and modern weaving techniques, Chanderi fabric is extensively used by fashion designers in a sustainable style to create Indo-western dresses, tunics and tops.

Bidri, born in Bidar

Bidar is the centre for the manufacture of these unique metal handicrafts, where ‘bidriware’ gets its name. Bidriware is really unique and famous because of its striking artwork and the metal used. This metal is a blackened alloy of copper and zinc inlaid with fine sheets of pure silver. This makes it one of the most important south Indian handicrafts exports and is commonly prized as a symbol of wealth in many places across the world. Tradition is to inlay various leaves, flowers, human figures, geometric designs, and stylised poppy plants with flowers. Old art is Persian in origin, but bidriware is purely Indian innovation. This art of engraving and inlaying is handed down by generations and is exclusive to Bidar. This craft is practiced in India hugely and the creations are well appreciated worldwide for the stunning beauty of the items made from
Bidri. While the artisans create silver designs on a metal ware, sometimes white silver is used to adorn the designs on black metal that give the items a proper ethnicity of the Bidri culture. This craft not only deals with metals but exclusive designs are made on cloth to accelerate this craft a pace further. The embroiderers attempted to create embroidery with the same effect of Bidri by creating silver embroidery on black cloth. The stitches and the elements needed for this embroidery work are same as Zardozi. The market scenario defines that Bidri work has a great market possibility in India as well as in the other sectors of the world as far as
the craftsmanship is concerned. The artistic pieces of Bidri work are popular amongst the tourists.

Folk Ornaments of Chhattisgarh

An interesting feature of the jewellery of Chhattisgarh is that they are more than mere bodily adornment. While very striking, they have value also for the figure and physique of the wearer. From time immemorial, human beings have had a fascination for adornment. Flowers, leaves and feathers have been widely used to decorate the human body, as have—commonly in Aboriginal tradition—shell, stones, wooden cubes and bones. The use of metal ornaments in India is generally traced back to ancient traditions. Chhattisgarh has had a rich tradition of jewellery, with pieces designed for almost every part of the body. There is also a great variety of designs
within each type. Most traditional ornaments, especially those made of bronze, are now rarely in use in Chhattisgarh. In the Bastar region in particular, a range of bronze jewellery. Jewellery from Chhattisgarh is available in a variety of gold, silver, bronze and mixed metals. Ornaments made out of beads, coweries, and feathers were made, which now is back in trend.

Sustainability – Environment friendly

Using traditional craft according to modern sensibilities is a key pursuit towards making traditional wisdom, age-old skills as well as obscure indigenous crafts relevant for our lives today through meaningful patronage and context-sensitive applications. The use of traditional arts and crafts within architecture brings local kaarigar communities into the fold by providing employment opportunities to them. A fusion with crafts might just breathe new life into these age-old forms and skills, and the communities and families dependent on them. These interventions not only revive and promote regional art forms but also honour and support crafts communities and their livelihoods. It is important to support our handicraft artisans by owning these items.
When you visit any part our country do not forget to buy some handicraft item as a souvenir. These are beautiful, vibrant and above all earth friendly. Materials used in handicrafts are mostly biodegradable.
The artisans are still using the traditional ancient method to create the masterpieces. By owning a piece we can support our artisans, villagers, our own culture and our own root.

We at BINDNEE craft our products in such way, as of building inherently ‘green’ or sustainable since our crafts have evolved over centuries and has been the most efficient way of addressing the challenges of their respective environments. Our entire collection is designed by experienced designers, having a good sense of arts, style and trends as well as its specific requirements. Our collection is acknowledged for its creativity, design and exclusive products that are beyond comparison.