365telugu.com online news,September 20, 2020: Antaran, an initiative of Tata Trusts, has curated an exclusive new collection of handloom products made by select Artisan Entrepreneurs nurtured under the
initiative. This collection, intended for the coming festive season is available through the
platform, www.antaranartisanconnect.in. The participating artisans are from six hidden and
lesser-known clusters of India with a rich history of cultural weaves and local handwoven
textiles.More than 2000 textile pieces handwoven in an array of colours and designs representing six
diverse heritage weave techniques are being featured on the platform as a part of its inaugural
Artisan-led Design collection. Products in this new collection range from sarees, stoles, dupattas
& fabrics (for men & women) and home furnishings such as cushion covers, table runners and
placemats in cotton and varieties of silk such as Eri, Muga and Tussar.
Key features of the textiles are natural fibres, ecofriendly or natural dyes, blends of handspun, mill spun yarns handwoven to create beautiful masterpieces with a design focus.Antaran’s community initiatives run across four states and six clusters of Assam (Kamrup and Nalbari), Nagaland (Dimapur), Odisha (Gopalpur and Maniabandha) and Andhra Pradesh(Venkatgiri).Through this platform, Antaran promotes exquisite textiles of lesser known handloom regions in India. Visitors to the site are able to directly access a wide variety of high quality, local,
environmentally and socially conscious products from skilled artisans; while trade buyers and
designers are able to establish long-term business relationships with them with facilitation
support from a team of professionals as part of the initiative Speaking about the latest collection, Mr Sharda Gautam, Head of Crafts – Tata Trusts,
said, “In these challenging times, small craft producers are possibly amongst the worst hit.
However, it is encouraging to see 600 artisans, linked to 70 microenterprises, maintaining their
creative spirits, as they design and develop beautiful textiles for the coming festive season, with
the hope to spark joy and keep their craft alive. This one-of-a-kind collection encapsulates the
artistry and skill of the weavers while offering consumers the rare opportunity of direct
interaction at a fair and transparent price point”.
The platform which was set up to support Artisan Entrepreneurs by selling their stock at the start
of the Lockdown, proved to be a huge success in its first phase. It attracted patrons from across
India and abroad as far as The US, Canada, The UK and Singapore. The unique offering of
personal contact with these artisans made for an altogether unique buying experience. Allowing customers, a rare firsthand view of the industry, the true charm of handwoven textiles and the
lives of our artisan entrepreneurs.
