Starting Afresh!
The start of something new is often small.
2nd of September, 2019 was a small start of something big for Women weavers of Saru Tejpur. It was also an important day at the Antaran Kamrup Incubation and Design Centre (IDC) with twenty something weavers commencing their journey with Antaran.
Coming from a hamlet 3 km away from the IDC, these weavers resolved to attend an intensive four-month full-time course, improving their weaving technique, learning new techniques, colour theory, communication as well as business management to come out as skilled artisans, designers and entrepreneurs.
The ice-breaking session began with a quick introduction of the student weavers followed by that of the Antaran field staff. The program was introduced by the Program Officer — Diana Frenchman after which the weavers were inducted into the training program by explaining its various components and how each component would prepare them to take up their own business. Following this, the Loom Trainer — Binanda Kalita explained the social and economic challenges that they would face at various stages of their journey — from training to market. He motivated the artisans to take up these new challenges that will come their way as they weave commercially, without giving up mid-way. The Dyeing Expert — Abhijeet Kalita explained the importance of all the technical aspects of the training such as four shaft loom and Nangal technique. Special emphasis was laid on the importance understanding of colour, seasonality and designs trending in the market.
A few weavers from the first full-time batch also shared their journey and experience with Antaran. Ms Juri Das narrated her learning experience at the IDC as well as through her exposure visit to Kolkata and Mumbai where she was accompanied. Ms Manju Das narrated her experience — first as a weaver and then as a weaver entrepreneur. She explained the importance of paying correct weaving charges and how the benefits of profit sharing enable the business to grow. Ms Gita Das spoke about her involvement in sample development and how sample development helps in encouraging orders for the cluster.
While the course involves theoretical and practical study, weavers are advised to start weaving products to sell at Antaran’s upcoming exhibitions that promote the craft. A few weavers had brought samples of the products they weave. Acknowledging their Muga weaving skills which have been lost on account of degradation of material quality and its replacement by cheap synthetic yarn freely available in the market, the Antaran team in Kamrup decided to revive this traditional knowledge and rich skill by commencing with Muga product sampling in the cluster.
- Diana Frenchman,
Program Officer, Assam.
