The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tiny creations, big message

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Saturday, Oct 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tiny creations, big message

R. Vimal Kumar

Karthik produces ‘dwarf garments’ for a social cause

— Photo: M. Balaji

Small’s beautiful: S. Karthik with his diminutive apparels.

Tirupur: S. Karthik (28) ‘manufactures’ garments, but he cannot be called an entrepreneur. Sounds interesting?

A native of Karaikudi, the youth produces attractive ‘dwarf garments’ not meant for sale, but for a social cause.

A tailor by profession, Mr. Karthik has already come out with diminutive garments of sizes varying from 1.5 inch to 3.5 inches in 77 different designs/styles. The ‘T-shirts’, ‘ladies outfits’, ‘sweaters’ and ‘jackets’ are fitted with embellishments which are eye-catching. Some are embossed with slogans asking the public to donate blood and eye.

These tiny creations used to be displayed at low-budget charity shows organised by him to raise funds for the welfare of orphans and destitute children.

“Penury I faced in my early childhood, which forced me to come to Tirupur seeking a job at the age of 11, has prompted me to work for the wellbeing of the children,” he says.

The ‘production technology’ followed by him has a tinge of novelty. The cloth pieces discarded out of textile units as wastes are his main ‘raw material’.

Then with the support extended by the owners of the textile unit at Chettipalayam, where he is employed, Mr. Karthik knits the cloths using power-driven machines during leisure hours.

According to him, it takes at least two hours to knit a single piece since a high level of skill and patience is essential to prepare these outfits.

Though not high in his agenda, Mr. Karthik has plans to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for developing the largest varieties of tiny clothing.

“I will apply only after coming out with 150 varieties,” he says.

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