Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The skills of traditional artisans are being promoted and cherished to ensure they are appreciated and never forgotten, writes Mai Al-Khatib-Camille.
Bahrain-based architect and designer Kavita Sharma believes their old-school traditions deserve being passed on from generation to generation ... with a little help from social media.
She launched Kala Design on Instagram to save traditional art forms from dying out and to shed light on her cultural heritage by promoting craftmakers and their work.
The 40-year-old mother-of-two, who has been living in the kingdom for the past 20 years, said: “This initiative has been inspired by my love of traditional Indian textiles and designs.
“What began as a journey of self-discovery led to the rediscovery of my rich cultural heritage. Six years ago, I started to work directly with Indian artisans in a little village called Bagru, creating contemporary interpretations of traditional Indian designs.
“I slowly then expanded the crafts to encompass Shrikalhasti (South India), Maharashtra (Central India), Thar Desert and other areas in Rajasthan in the North West.
“Each area represents not only the craft but a culture of the local rural fabric and its people reflecting the socio-economic facet of the villages.
“Every piece is ethically-sourced, artistically made in the rural homes of the artisans and each has a story to tell.
“The craft is an outcome of culture and tradition that was once upon a time patronised by the royalty in India. It arose as an expression of love; an evidence against the mechanistic evolution of society concerned with only survival.
“It keeps alive the culture tradition of artisans that inherited their skills to pass on to future generations and that’s where I can help.”
Today, she works with a number of craftsmen and women living in far off areas, who produce everything from unstitched fabrics and linens to accessories and homewares.
Patterns, prints and details can also reflect which part of India the designs stem from and its historical significance. For example, geometric patterns are mostly found up north and in the south it’s mainly the portrayal of dancers and ornate figures from epic stories.
All the products are made with organic materials that are locally sourced, such as cotton for weaving and vegetable dyes for block printing.
The eco-friendly and sustainable items are not just cultural art, they are functional pieces that promote living in a more natural and healthy way, she believes.
Kavita, though Indian in background, spent her formative years in Brazil and South America before working in Germany. But despite living abroad, her family’s lifestyle combined with visits back to India allowed her to cultivate a deep connection to her roots.
“These products contribute to carbon footprint reduction and a conscious living around the values of our clothing and homeware,” Kavita explained.
For example, Kavita has worked with copper craftsmen who say there is a reason why water is stored in copper.
Copper kills all the microorganisms like moulds, fungi, algae and bacteria that are present in water. It also helps maintain the body’s pH (acid-alkaline) balance.
“I don’t just promote their goods and the lifestyle that comes with it, I live it!” she added. “From an early age, my parents instilled a deep respect for nature and appreciation for Ayurveda (alternative medicine system) and holistic practices.
“Our family valued sustainability and much of what we consumed was grown in our garden. My mother’s wardrobe also consisted mainly of traditional Indian handcrafted garments.
“As a designer, I feel that I can translate their skills and traditions into modern, urban-friendly products without compromising their roots.”
Kavita is also now working with Bahraini artisans to help highlight their heritage too, together with a more sustainable way of living.
She hopes to someday be an ambassador of heritage conservation. “I also want to raise awareness about the whole system of modernisation and urbanisation and how machines, mass production and exploitation of people and craftsman, particularly the ones working in huge factories, is really not the thing we should be aiming for.
“The people who invest in traditionally-made items will be happy because each has a story to tell. So not only will the item be beautiful and natural, it will also be an object of conversation.
“As a result they will continue to share the artisans’ stories, provide them with financial support and keep their cultures alive.”
Aside from working with artisans, Kavita also stages workshops to teach people about different crafts that she picked up during her travels.
For details, follow @design_kala on Instagram.
