Handcrafted goodness in Coimbatore

By Hand From The Heart brings textiles, pottery, accessories and beauty products in their Makers Market.

February 02, 2018 04:35 pm | Updated February 03, 2018 02:59 pm IST

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018.
Photo: M_Periasamy

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018. Photo: M_Periasamy

The 22nd edition of the By Hand From The Heart at Jenney’s Residency features 21 makers and promises something for everyone. As I make my way into the exhibition hall, Lalitha Regi who manages the stall of Porgai Artisans Association from Sittilingi, Dharmapuri District smiles at me. The stall has saris, cushion covers, jewellery, tops, skirts and key chains. Showing me their products, she says, “All these are done by a group of 60 Lambadi women who belong to the nomadic tribe who came down from North West India years ago. With time their traditional Lambadi embroidery began to die out and we are now attempting to revive the art.” The artisans association has also tied up with the local organic cotton farmers in Sittilingi. “All the fabrics are hand spun and hand woven. We only use natural dyes.” She shows me a white stole with millets embroidered in green and brown. “These are the representation of the millets and other vegetation that grows in our valley.” Their key chains are up-cycled and made using waste fabric. They also have silk and linen saris in their collection. I come away with the white millet stole!

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018.
Photo: M_Periasamy

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018. Photo: M_Periasamy

 

At the next stall is Archana Avinash who is a certified crystal healer and gemmologist from Dubai. She has a collection of crystal and wish bracelets, rudraksha and chains that she claims to “ward off evil eyes.” The wish bracelet is a charm tied to a string and she says that according to legend, wishes come true when the string breaks. Her collection of crystals include garnets, smokey quartz, aventurine, rose quartz and tourmaline.

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018.
Photo: M_Periasamy

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018. Photo: M_Periasamy

 

The stall called Nakedly Yours has brightly coloured bottles with bath and body products. Slabs of soap are displayed “Each of these weighs about a kilogram, and I cut and pack it according to request”, says Lakshana Leelakrishnan from Ooty. She has a range of lip balms, face packs, balms, scrubs, beard wax, soaps, perfumes and serums. “All our raw materials are locally sourced. We have a farm in the Nilgiris where we grow rosemary, basil, eucalyptus, oranges, lime, and rose. I make all these products myself,” she says. Leelakrishnan started to make these products as a hobby and made it into a business following the good response that she received.

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018.
Photo: M_Periasamy

COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU 02/02/2018. Makers Market exhibition at Jenneys Residency in Coimbatore on February 02, 2018. Photo: M_Periasamy

 

She shows me a face pack made with Green Tea and Mid Summer Daisy. “Tea leaves and daisies are dried in shade for 20 days before it is ground and sieved. Natural clay is added to the powder before it is packed.” She claims a shelf life of six month to two years for her products. “I avoid water, which decreases the shelf life of products”, Leelakrishnan explains.

 

Transy Gardens by Priya Surendar offers terrariums and hanging gardens made with succulents and air plants. “Air plants do not need soil. All you need to do is spray some water once a day. Make sure to keep it in areas that have good air circulation”, Surendran explains. She uses decorations such as dolls, corals and stones in her terrariums.

 

The vibrant red, green and yellow of a wooden pallanguzhi board attracts attention to the stall called Kriti. Pabitha Prakash from Salem, who hand paints each item in the collection says, “I work with wood and MDF. I have boxes, spoons, trays, trays, tissue boxes, wall plates and candle holders in my collection.” Her designs are inspired by Kalamkari, mandalas, dot art, and Athangudi tiles

Puducherry based Puneet Brar’s stall Wind Glaze has a range of pottery items including plates, bowls, water bottles, davra sets, and cups. She calls her collection Shiva Parvathi that includes bowls in black and white. I ask her how she makes it and she explains. “I use the wheel to transform the raw clay into these products. They are then fired twice. I use natural oxides like titanium and copper for the colour.” Her products range from ₹450 to ₹2500.

Info you can use

By Hand From Heart is on today from10.00 am to 8.00 pm

@ Jenney’s Residency, Avanashi Road.

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