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My project with ROPE (Rural Outsourcing Production Enterprise) was a rich experience in working with natural and eco-friendly materials. ROPE is an entrepreneurial venture of IIT Madras whose aim is to connect the rural artisan and the global customer.
At the outset, I visited the weaving villages in Erode and surrounding areas to understand the infrastructure and capabilities of weavers. In the middle of my project, I undertook a trip to Milan where I noticed that a lot of restaurants and stores had banana rope outdoor furniture. This made me realize the vast potential of banana fibres in South India especially in the European Market.
I worked with banana fibre, grass, bamboo, jute, cotton, Korai grass etc. to create two collections: A Kitchen collection (which comprised of three lines – Scandinavian, Ochres and Natural) as well as a Corporate Collection (which once again comprised three lines – Research park; Venture East and Leather). The former comprised table runners, dish coasters, tea cozys, placemats and floor cushions. The latter comprised laptop sleeves, tissue boxes, pen holders, book jackets, sling bags and book marks. In addition, I also developed bath slippers and Obis’.
In the future, the next big item on the agenda is the marketing and the branding of these products abroad. I learned how to communicate with weavers in their local language help them translate my designs onto fabrics. My project gave me an opportunity to explore varied options with dyeing, weaving and product detailing. I also acquired a sensitivity towards weavers, their capabilities and their hopes and aspirations. |
