Organic food from Timbaktu

These products have been cultivated through safe and ethical organic farming using only organic manures, pest repellents, and growth promoters. A list of the products available can be seen in the picture below.

To read more about Timbaktu, visit http://timbaktu-organic.org/

Silk sarees from South India

dāram presents a range of Kanjeevaram, Uppada, Paithani and hand block-printed silk sarees for Diwali

Paithani sarees stand out because of their intricate designs on the pallu and the border. Motifs on the pallu are generally those of peacock, lotus, mango and other designs recreated from the antique paintings of Ajanta, the royal brocades of the Nawabs of Bengal, Mughal architecture and the ancient temple frescos of the south. Traditional creative artistry and pain staking workmanship combine to form this handmade textile creation in finest mulberry silk, gold and silver zari.

Hand block-printed silk sarees have fast, azo free colours and are created using steam discharge print, requiring skilled workmanship. Some very old copper outline heritage blocks with very fine outlines are used for traditional designs of kutch, sanganer, kalamkari, jama-e-war and madhubani

Accessories from Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra

This Diwali, dāram presents a range of bags, wallets, purses and pouches from Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra, Bellary.

Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra works with Lambani artisans in the Bellary district of Karnataka. Lambanis or Banjaras are a nomadic, gypsy tribe and are well-known for their exquisite traditional hand-embroidery using various stitches and mirror crafts. The embroidery on the bags, purses and pouches is a fusion of pattern darning, mirror work, cross stitch, and overlaid and quilting stitches with borders of Kangura patchwork appliqué done on a base fabric which is hand-block-printed in traditional Lambani motifs. A distinctive design element is the use of local mud resistant handloom fabric, and mirrors, shells, white ornamental trims in addition to Kasuti work, a unique form of needlework native to North Karnataka.

The Kendra was established in 1988 with a basic objective to train and develop locally available skills in the arts and crafts, thereby improving the quality of life for artisans. For the last two decades the organization has successfully helped promote traditional crafts like lambani embroidery, Karnataka kasuti, cane and bamboo crafts, stone and woodcarving, and also the spinning and weaving of cotton khadi fabric.

To read more about the Kendra and its works, visit http://www.kushalakalasandur.com