" A skill development project started by TRTI for the development and trainning to the tribal villages in Maharashtra in their respective craft in order to help the artisans for getting new market insights, trend analysis, to gain knowledge to contemporararize the designs, new product lines, new product sampling to get an order from national and international buyers to make their livelihood more strong. "

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Happiness is handcrafted
W A R L I | B A M B O O
D A H A N U | N A G P U R

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Lal10, which is a spin on, which means ‘lantern’ in Hindi, was named so
with the idea of being the beacon in the life of the Indian artisan. We are a
social venture focused on bringing up the Indian artisan by helping them gain
economic stability. We do so, by selling in bulk to businesses and by bringing
awareness about the various crafts to the world.

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H A P P I N E S S I S H A N D C R A F T E D
Lal10 has always believed in creating innovation by staying grounded
to the roots. We have always created new products keeping the
traditional techniques and crafts sacrosanct. Because that is what
personifies the real India - that is what makes India’s heritage so rich
and its traditions so precious. The wealth of India’s culture is renowned
throughout the globe. At Lal10, we are just doing our bit to support
the talented men and women who are the reason for our pride, the
torchbearers of our rich heritage - The Indian Artisans and Craftspersons.
Our love for travel takes us to different parts of our country in search
of these hidden gems of tradition. These heirloom crafts are still being
practiced religiously by this group of people. We study their techniques,
designs and limitations; we live with them; break bread with them - but
most importantly, we empathise with them. This helps us find the perfect
balance between the traditional and the contemporary. This results in
trendy, designer products which are deep-rooted in our traditions.
happiness is handcrafted

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Dahanu Beach

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We started from Mumbai, Maharashtra, which followed an enriching journey
in Dahanu and Nagpur.
This document will unravel the process behind the development of our
Home firnishing and decor collection made of Bamboo and Warli craft..
It is also a detailed travelogue documenting our journey and a sincere
effort to walk you through the rich experience we had - starting from our
journey from Delhi to the development and finishing of the products in our
collection.
After reading this, we hope you see what we see and celebrate the Indian
artisans the way Lal10 does.
O U R J O U R N E Y
Our journey

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M A H A R A S H T R A
D A H A N U | N A G P U R

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W A R L I | D A H A N U

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Unassuming Warli figures painted in white
on red ochre walls might not seem like
much to the untrained eye. But a closer
look will tell you that there’s more to Warli
than what meets the eye. It is not just an
art form, but a way of life for the Warli
tribes from the mountains and coastal
regions in and around the borders of
Maharashtra and Gujarat. This art form
that originated around 3000 BC has an
enigmatic appeal to it.
Various Warli Motifs

12. 12Village celebration depicted in Warli

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The intricate geometric patterns of flowers, wedding
rituals, hunting scenes and other everyday activities
are quite popular among fashion designers and
home décor brands. Those from the states of Gujarat
and Maharashtra surely have a sense of sentiment
attached to the art form as they’ve seen it on the
walls of rural schools, bus stands, pavements and
homes way before they became popular on modern
lifestyle products. The simple, yet beautifully delicate
patterns have a certain raw appeal about them.
The tribes used to use basic materials for painting
like rice paste with water and gum for the white paint
and a bamboo stick that had been chewed on
that served as a brush. However, now acrylic paints
and paint brushes are used to paint. It is this simple
charm that has attracted many designers to use the
paintings in their collections. Invented way before
the age of cell phones, smileys and emoticons, Warli
paintings don’t just pull at your heartstrings, thanks to
their rustic charm, they also tell a vivid story. Such is
the charm of this ancient art that it also adorns many
hotel lobbies and rooms proudly. There’s something
about these paintings that take us back in time and
sentiment behind the art — be it a funeral scene or
the act of worshipping the tribal gods.

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With the back-to-the-roots movement taking over
every part of our lives, art lovers flaunt the Warli motif
with pride. Traditionally, this painting is done on a red
ochre background with white paint and these are the
only two colours used. But, today, a variety of colours
are being used to replicate these artistic motifs on
fabrics, home décor or other artistic forms.
Of all those who are taking inspiration from this art, the
lifestyle sector is the one that is most fascinated by
its richness. From brightly coloured umbrellas to coffee
mugs and tea cups, rustic wall clocks, accents for walls
and stationery — Warli is pretty much everywhere. And
it doesn’t stop here. The art of Warli is every Indian
fashion designer’s new darling. From adorning the
borders of colourful scarves and kurtis to embellishing
the luxurious jute and silk sarees, Warli has taken over
the ramp for good.

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Sampling Process of
table mats and runners

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Warli art to some extent makes us think of being environmentally conscious and
finding joy in simple things of life. The Warli people lead fairly simple lives. Earlier, they
worshipped nature and depended on nature for food and everyday living. They
did not believe in disrupting nature or taking more than they needed. The Warli tribe
believes in harmony between nature and man, and these beliefs are often reflected
in their paintings.
Traditional Warli motifs of birds and clouds

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Sampling process of lampshades

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Dancing peacock warli done on paper

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This train of thought also holds true for our lives today. A lot of urban folk are
now adopting a minimalist lifestyle by staying away from technology whenever
possible, eating clean, embracing handloom and taking a closer look at
science behind ancient customs and traditions. So, it isn’t much of a surprise
that traditional art forms like Warli are making their way back into our society to
remind us of the simple pleasures of life.

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Though popularly known as stick figures, it would be interesting to note that
there aren’t any straight lines used in Warli paintings. They are usually crooked
lines, dots, circles and triangles. Human and animal bodies are represented
by two triangles joined at the tip. Their precarious equilibrium symbolises the
balance of the universe, essentially ritualistic, Warli paintings were usually
made by married women to celebrate a wedding. Though a lot of these
paintings are based on rituals associated with fertility and prosperity, there’s
always a touch of realism in them. The paintings were also used to decorate
the huts of Warli tribes, usually made from a mixture of cow dung and red mud.

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Wooden trays, coasters, stands with Warli art

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Interestingly, the central motif of these paintings portray scenes of hunting,
fishing and farming, festivals and dances, trees and animals. Apart from ritualistic
paintings, other Warli paintings cover day-to-day activities of the village folk.
One of the important aspects of most Warli paintings is the “Tarpa dance” –
the tarpa is a trumpet-like instrument, which is played in turns by different men.
While the music plays, men and women join their hands and move in circles
around the tarpa players. This circle of the dancers is also symbolic of the
circle of life.
Many of us might wonder why the fuss about an art form that restricts itself to
two colours. But this classic simplicity is what makes this art stand out from the
clutter.

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While art forms like these are finding it hard to survive in this digital age, a few thoughtful souls are doing their bit to keep
tradition alive. One such saviour is AYUSH | Adivasi Yuva Shakti in Dahanu, Palghar district that makes an effort to keep
this art form alive by providing Warli artists various platforms to display their art.
In a world of excesses, unpretentiousness is a rarity and this art form keeps that belief alive. So, purchasing and promoting
hand-painted Warli items seems like a fitting tribute to this one-of-a-kind art form. And while you’re at it, you might want
learn a thing or two from their way of living.
Warli artisans at AYUSH

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Wooden coasters depicting village life

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W H E R E T O N E X T ?
Away from city’s hustle and bustle, Dahanu is a secluded place with
only tranquillity around. It has one of the most relaxing beaches with
a breath-taking view. With finger licking local delicacies to extremely
helpful people, our visit to Dahanu was like a dream.
Staying, breaking bread and cross-learning about the traditional
techniques of the craft and the urban style of aesthetics between us
and the Warli artisans turned out to be an extraordinary experience.
Sadly, all good things come to an end.
But, not for too long as it was time for us to fly to another cluster and
experience the joy of handicraft being made in front of our eyes all
over again.
Our next destination was Nagpur where Bamboo craft is widely
prevalent. Nagpur is also famous throughout the country as “Orange
City” for being a major trade center of oranges that are cultivated in
the region. It has also been ranked as the cleanest city and the second
greenest city of India.
Where to next?

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B A M B O O | N A G P U R

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Extensive use of wood over the ages for furniture and other products has challenged the environment
more than ever before. The population of trees and forests is ever receding. The increasing need for
wood has been beautifully supplemented by cane and bamboo.
Throughout Asia and beyond people admire and consider Bamboo a miraculous plant. Since
genesis, Bamboo has been used to build houses, make weapons for hunting and its tender shoots are
consumed for sustenance.
Bamboo shavings

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In Wardha women make baskets every
morning and sell it in the evening to earn
daily wages.

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Primitive people assigned a sacred status to bamboo and revered to it as a
bonafide gift from God.
Besides the life giving properties, Bamboo also contains a spiritual message
that resonates deeply in the Asian ethos. Bamboo’s remarkable strength and
hardness is not unknown. But the real genius of Bamboo lies in its pliability and
resilience, its ability to flex and bend without breaking.
More than a mere model of brute force, the one who knows when to give in
and how to sway in the breeze is the one who will truly weather the storm and
survive.

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Bamboo crafts of India have developed over centuries to reach a high level of
structural and aesthetic sophistication. This is amply illustrated by the vast range of
products currently being made and used by several tribes living in this country. The
product range includes large structures such as bridges, houses, fences, gates and
a wide variety of baskets both tor carrying and storage. In addition, devices for
fishing, farming, and weaving as well as products for household use such as furniture,
toys, smoking pipes, combs, hats, and musical instruments are exquisitely crafted with
bamboo.
The skill of working with bamboo is extremely widespread, with a large percentage
of the ethnic population capable of refined craftsmanship in this material. Although
for most craftsmen this is not an exclusive occupation, the distribution of skill and an
understanding of the properties and limitations of the material is a valuable resource
for the formation and expansion of a craft-based industry.

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Bamboo in different shapes and sizes

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The characteristics of bamboo vary considerably from species to species.
Mature plants are characterised by rapid growth which generates long fibres in
a homogeneous structure. It can be used whole, split or flattened into sheets for
many structural applications. Splits of various sizes can be obtained and can
even be twisted to form ropes. Bamboo can also be pulped to produce excellent
paper and rayon. Distribution of species is linked to variations in terrain, altitude,
rainfall, and soil composition, to name only a few criteria. Some species occur all
over the region whereas others are found only at specific locations. A few species
are cultivated in the plains of Assam and Manipur, grown as clumps beside rice
fields and around houses and ponds.

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Bamboo leaves

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In spite of the tremendous scope for the
growth of bamboo handicrafts, today
there are also many problems inhibiting
its development. Entrepreneurial
attitudes and skills need to be
developed among local craftsmen.
There is a serious lack of precise data
on the structural and mechanical
properties of various bamboo species.

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Upcoming Bamboo restaurant at The Bamboo Shop, Nagpur. This structure is made entirely of
Bamboo within an extremely economical cost of INR 1Lakh only.

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Although local craftsmen have an intuitive understanding of these properties, there is a need for such information to
be externalised and classified in a scientific manner. There is also a lack of systematic botanical information on the
growth and propagation of species suitable for handicrafts on a region-to-region basis. Bamboo is also extremely
susceptible to attack by fungi, insects, and borers. Traditional methods of preservation may not be applicable to
bamboo handicrafts intended for new applications. Bamboo handicrafts are relatively low priced and the fact that it
is extremely economical should be promoted as the craft is extremely versatile, classy and should be adopted by more
and more people in the urban society.
Interiors of the restaurant are also made of Bamboo Small bamboo bridge

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U N T I L N E X T T I M E
Crafts in India grew as a result of two needs of mankind: the utility and the
need for beauty. The former resulted in the comparatively plain objects
of utility, which served The needs of the common people. The latter
produced more sophisticated products upon which much time and
labor were spent and which catered to the aristocracy and nobility of
the land or were exported as choice gifts and objects of art. Although
complex in the matter of production and involving numerous processes,
each craft is individualistic and localized in its appeal. Crafts differ from
region to region. They have their traditional ways of production, their
own designs, colors and individual shapes and patterns. The tools that
produce these handicrafts cannot be compared against spectacular
machines, but the resulting artifacts speak with silent and subtle beauty.
Beautiful, conceptually pure handicrafts have survived, and they remain
popular not only in India but all over the world, where they are admired,
bought and displayed.
Until next time

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Aditya Nr. Gharami
Accessory Designer
Stutee Shukla
Graphic Designer
Sonchiriya : Once India was called with this name, not just
for its wealth but also for its richness in crafts, culture and
tradition. Working with the Indian artisans and crafts is always
a new experience, learning and fun.
Working with Indian artisans is always extremely enriching. The
outcome of each craft is different and every cluster has an
intersting story to tell. This journey to Maharashtra was an
exceptional experience.
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T H E T E A M
The team

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48. 48 https://lal10.com
House of Lal10, Sector 65, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Contact details:
9167106930 / 9167122150
Email id:
maneet@lal10.com sanchit@lal10.com