Divya Vigneshwaran, founder and designer, Hastha Merchandise, making handblock printing of madras motif garments at Gurukulam Centre for Youngsters of Particular Wants in Anna Nagar, Chennai
| Picture Credit score: Akhila Easwaran
Chennai metropolis’s spirit thrives across the clock, from someday to a different, with artists celebrating their love for Chennai throughout mediums, from canvas to material. “Whereas discussing the wealthy heritage of Madras, we wished a approach to rejoice all of it 12 months lengthy. That’s how Pattinam prints was born,” explains Divya Vigneshwaran, who specialises in hand-block printed garments beneath the model Hastha (hasthahappiness).
The idea was sparked by architect Thirupurasundari Sevvel from ‘Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai’, a social initiative. “I wish to carry out the Madras motifs, beginning with the town’s entry stone, which marks ‘0’, the kattumaram, temple umbrellas from Chintadripet, the lighthouse, and the alli flower of Thiru-alli-keni amongst different symbols,” says Ms. Thirupurasundari.
To carry this imaginative and prescient to life, a inventive collaboration emerged, provides Ms. Thirupurasundari, that includes illustrators, stylists, and teams like Anchored Hues, Flavours of Madras, and Paper Thundugal. Collectively, they introduced these motifs to life in a variety of clothes – veshtis, sarees, T-shirts, stoles, and even umbrellas.
“What units these aside is using sustainable block printing,” says Ms Thirupurasundari. “The veshtis and T-shirts are printed by adults with disabilities, making a sustainable revenue mannequin for them, whereas expert artisans print the sarees,” provides Ms. Divya. All earnings go in direction of the Hastha Basis, which helps the welfare of individuals with disabilities. “This assortment, that includes 16 Madras-inspired motifs, is all for the love of the town.”
Along with material, there are Madras-themed fusion tote baggage by Aafreen Fathima S.Ok., a full-time architect and artist referred to as Ninetyeight.madras. “Taking auto rides have at all times been dreamy to me – the wind, yellows of the auto, and blue skies, identical to the starry evening. That’s how the tote bag idea of an auto trip beneath Van Gogh’s starry evening took place,” Ms. Aafreen says. “I’m a one-person workforce, hand portray these tote baggage,” provides Ms. Aafreen who has been doing this undertaking for the reason that heels of the pandemic.
Ms. Aafreen isn’t stopping on the auto starry evening idea; she can also be merging different iconic landmarks like Higginbothams on Mount Street and the Armenian Church in George City with the starry evening theme at the moment. “I’ll proceed to rejoice the heritage of Madras via artwork that’s accessible to all,” says Ms Aafreen.
Revealed – September 23, 2024 05:38 pm IST
