Eco-friendly, intricate works to appease aesthetic taste at this design fair
Missing the feel of a haat where the combo of traditional arts and food made for a perfect outing? From Madhubani painted garments to hand-painted terracotta jewellery and pashmina shawls, the ongoing Dastkar Design Fair 2021 has it all. A confluence of crafts and traditions, it comprises artisans, designers nd craftspersons from across India. Among the ones part of the est is Hemant umawat, a iniature paintartist g from Jaiur. “My paintngs are nspired by trees, birds and animals that are endanered. I hope to aise awareness rough my art, ich is created on ndmade paper g natural or vegetable dyes,” he says.
Unlike usual design fairs that tend to focus on textiles, one can find here a plethora of handcrafted items, ranging from studio pottery and carpets to herbal products. Lokesh Soni, a seventh generation Meenakari artisan from Nathdwara (Rajasthan) who has on display a variety of earrings, bangles and pendants, says, “Due to the pandemic, exports were hit, so my family’s business was gravely affected. But now, I’m elated to be here!”
The fair has been organised with a safety-first approach. “Our open-air venue is spread over a large area, ensuring social distancing at all times. The premises are sanitised properly every day, stalls are laid out in a manner to avoid crowding. And special measures are in place at the food court, too,” says Shelley Jain, head of programmes and personnel at Dastkar.