It is a classic case of tradition meeting modernity as the traditional embroidery art of the State’s Lambani tribal woman is all set to get a French makeover.
French International designer and visual artist, Ms. Isabelle Arciero Mahier, is working with a group of Lambani women from Sandur of Ballari district to give a contemporary outlook to their embroidery work under an initiative taken up by the Central Silk Board.
Under this initiative, the Lambani women are encouraged to work on different varieties of silk fabrics. “The CSB is supporting this initiative by focussing on technical aspects such as improving the texture of fabric,” a scientist who is co-ordinating with the project told The Hindu.
Under this project, about 15 Lambani women have been shown the methods of working on rare varieties of silk including the non-mulberry varieties like eri, muga and tassar as they have different textures. These women, in turn, are training about 40 other Lambani women, the scientist pointed out.
The main intention is to add value to the traditional art of these women and also help take it to international market, he said. About 70 products varying from hand bags to wall hangings have been chosen for working on silk fabrics under this project. Some of these art works by the Lambani women were released by Union Minister of State for Textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar at the valedictory of the International Congress of the International Sericultural Commission here on Wednesday in the presence of Commission’s Secretary-general Ishita Roy.
