COLLECTION 2: ALANKAR
A series of bold and elegant weaves in wild silks featuring extra weft motifs.
This collection was made as a part of my Graduate Collection with Avani, a voluntary organisation working in the Kumaon region of the Central Himalayas for the past 17 years. Th organisation works in 108 villages of Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts of Kumaon, integrating sustainable livelihoods and appropriate technology reaching over 20,000 people. It has established two sustainable rural businesses based on Bio-fuel Energy Generation programme and Handmade Natural Textiles.
My 6-month project at Avani was concerned with the textile programme i.e an artisan owned cooperative called Earthcraft. For the entirety of project, I was stationed at Avani’s headquarters in Tripuradevi, a small hamlet in district Pithoragarh, 100 kms from Almora. The campus is set in the midst of pine and deodar covered mountains overlooking the majestic Panchachuli peaks. The project was undertaken to understand the context and working of an organisation like Avani, a community driven not-for-profit in remote Himalayas generating livelihood opportunities for people.
This project was conducted at a time when the world was suffering from a deadly pandemic since the past year. However, due to Avani’s remote location, the area was comparatively safe. Work continued on campus and in Avani’s various centres under strict regulations and with a lesser work force.
Project Mentor: Mr. Shafique Afzal
Ms. Rashmi Bharti
