Tuesday 8 September 2015

Are handloom prices increasing like gold price ?

Are handloom prices increasing like gold prices ?

Gold is on a decline because of multiple reasons. But I do not see the same happening with Handloom.

I have been buying hand-loom sarees and materials for many years now and I surely see the rise in prices and no sign of decline.

I am going to provide a comparison of prices of some of the handloom cotton sarees where they have increased exponentially !! You are not still late, if you find these sarees grab them.

Let us start from north-east. 

The beautiful woven Manipuri cotton saree which was at Rs 1000 4 years back is now priced at Rs 4500+ at government emporiums.

Should we start investing in sarees? Hope there was a re-sale value for them too. The beautiful weaved motif of delicate manipuri sarees cannot be missed.

 
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-manipur-to-madurai/article2200912.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-manipur-to-madurai/article2200912.ece
Kotpad saree from Orissa was once priced at Rs.1200, now starts from Rs 4500+ for off white shade. Any other color the price is way higher.





Orissa Sambalpuri IKKAT cotton sarees were available at Rs 2000+  4 years back the same saree is now available at double the price.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/orissa-govt-ropes-in-top-fashion-designers-to-revive-handloom-sector/article2131380.ece
Will get more updates on south indian sarees too in my next post.

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Flower Power Tuesday's - Double Red Hibiscus

Power means strength and force, Shakti, which enables one to face all that can happen and to stand and overcome, also to carry out what the Divine Will proposes. It can include many things, power over men, events, circumstances, means etc. But all this not of the mental or vital kind, but by an action through unity of consciousness with the Divine and with all things and all beings. It is not an individual-strength depending on certain personal capacities, but the Divine Power using the individual as an instrument.

SRI AUROBINDO

Force is the essential Shakti; Energy is the working drive of the Force, its active dynamism; Power is the capacity born of the Force; Strength is energy consolidated and stored in the Adhar.
SRI AUROBINDO


Power of Consciousness

All the powers of controlling and governing the lower movements of inconscient nature.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Double flowers in all sizes with colours that range from raspberry pink through red to crimson.


Sunday 28 June 2015

Home Tour - ANOKHI's Rachel and Pritham Singh's Jaipur Home

Anokhi's roots lie in Jaipur, a city whose founders were enlightened patrons of the 

arts and crafts. Skilled craftsmen were invited to settle here and were ensured a 

secure livelihood. In the Jaipur tradition, Anokhi tries to maintain an open and honest 

relationship with its craftspersons. It helps them to work in conditions of their own 

choosing and commits itself to providing them with sustained work.


Below is the home tour of  Rachel and Pritham Singh's Jaipur home which 

was published in InsideOutside 2002 October edition.  

I have carefully saved all my favorite inspirations :)

I am sure you are going to love this. 











Tuesday 16 June 2015

Flower Power Tuesday - Plumbago Auriculata

Krishna’s Ananda
Manifold, abundant and so full of charm.

Plumbago Auriculata
Cape leadwort - Small lavender blue flowers.


Sunday 14 June 2015

Prepping For The Wedding Season

The wedding season has started in my family. Every year I look forward to such occasions even though it makes a big hole in my pocket.  A wedding season is nothing but a shopping season which I love.

If a wedding is performed in an old traditional fashion then we will need minimum 4 to 5 sarees. One would not just need sarees but would also need matching jewelry. I have been following a jewelry buying tradition for many years now. Whenever a wedding happens in my family I buy a piece of jewelry. This way I can I easily remember the year of purchase and calculate the ROI (Return On Investment) J

Even this year I wanted to buy some jewelry and I visited my trusted jeweler. I liked an enameled gold antique pendant. Once the price was calculated it was nowhere close to what I expected so I bought an other piece of jewelry for the marriage. I left the store with a heavy heart as I was not able to buy what I liked.


I liked the enameled jewelry so much that I started googling to see if similar pieces were available. I did not find a similar piece but found “Sayuri” in Chennai.  

Sayuri is owned by Divya who believes in creating contemporary and fashionable pieces by incorporating recycling and reusing. Her tagline is "Designed to please your soul".

Each and every peice is handcrafted by her. 

Divya creates jewelry based on different themes. Only after I met Divya I found that ragas were depicted in pictorial form in our ancient scriptures. Divya has created a range of jewelry based on ragas. Most of her Raga based jewelry has been sold out but it is worth seeing the pictures for visual treat.

Here is Ragamala by Sayuri.  Click on the link to read more.



Finally, the peice of jewelry Divya created for me. Radha madhav bib. I just love it because it is so unique:




Tuesday 9 June 2015

Flower Power Tuesday's - Bougainvillea

Protection

Let us Give ourselves entirely and sincerely to the Divine and we shall enjoy His protection.

When we are in close contact with the Divine, a protection can come which helps or directly guides or moves us; it does not throw aside all difficulties, sufferings or dangers, but it carries us through them and out of them - except where for a special purpose there is need of the opposite.

SRI AUROBINDO

When you think of the Lord's Peace it acts as a call, and the more you think of it the " more you surround yourself with it, which is the most powerful protection.

THE MOTHER


Saturday 6 June 2015

Corporate Dress Code

Each organization defines their own dress code. Frankly speaking uniforms are the best. You need not worry on what has to be worn every day to work. I am not saying that it’s easy for men to choose what they want to wear but choosing what to wear for women is more complicated.
In most of the organization in Indian private sector, women population is roughly 10-15% when it comes to middle management and top management and the age group is 35+ years. When you fall in that group your dress code becomes very important. Among 20 colleagues only 1 or 2 would be women while attending any key meetings. Under these circumstances one should not look odd. The female dress should gel with the blues and greys and whites in the room. If you are a person like me who rarely wears western clothes, then you have to make your wisest choice.
In this post I am going to talk about saree as the choice of attire. I feel saree’s are more comfortable and the options are innumerable. For every day work, we can go for cotton ikkat’s, Bengal cotton, block prints, chettinad cotton, mangalagiri, Kanchi cotton, or Maheshwari.

For chettinad and mangala giri saree I usually do not go for plain blouses. I try to pair them with kantha work, block print or differently weaved ikkat blouses. But if we have to attend team meetings or conferences it is better to go for pastel shades and apart from cotton’s, Tussar/simple silks look great.  



Though in the movie the actress has not potrayed  the role of a corporate person but the costume design can be effortlessly followed.  
Go back and watch the movie again to get more inspirations. If you have any questions on what was the type of saree worn, you can ping me and I will clarify :)
Initially, I was apprehensive to link this post to a movie but then I thought it was the right fit so why not. :D