Manayola Dupatta

When you watch Kathakali or Theyyam, it is impossible to miss the beautiful hues of orange colour on the performer's face. That colour is extracted from "Manayola", a deep yellow-orange coloured stone. Here you get to wear a Dupatta that has acquired its character from our traditional art forms. Isn't it energising!   Story of Weaving: The handloom fabric is a type of fabric that is woven using hand operated looms. Two sets of interlacing yarns, the warp (length) and weft (width), are woven on a loom hand-operated by weavers. These looms do not use electricity. Human handling lends the fabrics a unique feel and renders the fabrics more value. The resultant fabric is softer, more durable and much more comfortable than machine-made fabrics. Handloom cotton is more breathable and thus feels lighter in summers and provides more insulation in winters. The dyeing process also becomes easier for handloom cotton as the colour penetration is substantially more. Hues are absorbed better thus look resplendent on handloom cotton. The art of hand weaving is labour intensive and takes a longer time. But, the beauty it adds to the fabric is priceless. Choosing handloom cotton supports the rich weaving heritage of India and lets the weavers carry on the precious art-form to the future generations as well.

Lalitham Yoga Mat

She goes for an early morning yoga session to a park near her home. An easy to carry mat makes her walk to the park breezy. Once she reaches the park, she spreads the mat on any flat surface. She is all ready for a relaxing yoga to energise her body and soul.  The early morning sun dries up the mat. After yoga, she rolls her mat and returns home. If there is anything stuck to the mat, she just shows it under running water and put it under the sun to dry. On days when there is a slight drizzle, she blow dries the mat with a hair dryer. She keeps the dry mat in her cupboard and is ready for another busy day at work.   Story of Cora Grass and Mat weaving: Cora Grass is found along river banks and in marshy lands. It can grow up to a height of two meters. Family members of mat weavers collect these cora grass and bring it for processing. They cut each grass stem into four strands and remove the soft material at the centre. Before further processing, the grass is dried under the sun, till it develops a beige colour naturally. The grass is then dyed using different colouring materials and processes to match artists imagination. Sometimes, the colouring process takes days, depending on the shade of colour desired. The handcrafted mats are woven using hand operated looms. A set of  white yarns as the warp (length) and thin strands of cora grass as weft (width), are woven on a loom hand-operated by weavers. These looms do not use electricity. Human handling lends the mat a unique feel and more value. The resultant mat is softer, more durable and much more comfortable than machine-made mats. The cora grass strands are compacted by hand by the weavers, ensuring sturdiness to the mat. The art of hand weaving is labour intensive and takes a longer time. But, the beauty and quality it adds to the mat is priceless. Choosing handwoven mats  supports the rich weaving heritage of Killimangalam and lets the weavers carry on the precious art-form to the future generations as well.

Chakiri Fruit Basket

In Kerala, the land of coconut trees, we find a way to create utility from every part of that tree. For decades, making coir by processing coconut fibre has been a source of livelihood for a significant share of the population in this region. Coconut fibre is processed into strands and these strands are twisted together to form coir. Later coir is dyed with beautiful colours. Our artisans in Alleppey district of Kerala use this coir to make baskets. A basket completely made of natural materials, symbolising the spirit of Kerala.