Sustainable products will be presented at the exhibition | Photo credit: Special agreement

The India HandMade Collective (IHMC) is hosting an exhibition of handcrafted products using natural dyes in Bengaluru this weekend. The three-day event will also include workshops and provide visitors with a platform to interact directly with artisans.

Mahima Thangappan, the coordinator of IHMC, says, “We work with natural dyes extracted from natural resources like flowers, leaves and roots. This is an age-old method that we used until chemical dyes were discovered. In fact, chemical dyes are one of the major reasons for water pollution. The devastating effects can be seen in the Tirupur belt where the river water is neither potable nor irritating. Our aim is to promote sustainable lifestyle and fashion and we work only with cotton that is biodegradable.”

All the products at the exhibition will be made of cotton and the fabrics are all hand-spun and hand-woven, says Mahima. “They are naturally dyed and available in floral eco-prints, block prints, kalamkari, lambadi embroidery, Bengali muslin and jamdani weaves.”

There will be a range of saris, fabrics, women’s wear, men’s wear, home decor, accessories, terracotta handicrafts, bamboo handicrafts, banana fibre handicrafts, coconut shell handicrafts, cloth diapers and cloth menstrual pads.

Mahima says IHMC was founded in 2020 by Ananthoo (who is also part of Tula Organic Garments, Chennai), Tara Aslam (also part of Nature Alley, Bengaluru), Dr. Lalitha (also part of Porgai Artisans Association – a unit of Tribal Health Initiative) in Sittilingi Valley, Dharmapuri, Arup Rakshit (of MG Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan Foundation, Kolkata) and late Karuna Tai Futane (of Gram Sewa Mandal, Wardha).

“We started virtually and then gradually moved to physical exhibitions,” says Ananthoo, one of the co-founders from Chennai. “This is our third show in Bengaluru. We are a non-profit organisation and work on a volunteer basis.”

Ananthoo says, “IHMC works with artisans and artists. We started in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Our main revenue was only through exhibitions and when we were stuck in lockdown, we leaned towards virtual exhibitions. Instead of going as individuals, we came together as a collective. This way we also aim to reduce our carbon footprint.”

The exhibition will be held from August 30 to September 1 from 11 am to 8 pm at Bangalore International Centre. You need to pre-register for the workshop (Make your own Ganesha in clay) on 7893882228.