Bamboo Craft - Wayanad
Design development has been noticeable in natural fiber crafts especially in bamboo craft. A variety of products are being made to suit contemporary spaces. While floor mats and baskets have traditionally been made they are now available in bright colors and attractive color combinations. Artisans are trying combination of different material to create products. Different surface finishes are explored to enhance the product like burning, painting; carving etc. the motifs used are majorly tribal and indigenous inn nature. New patterns in weaving are even explored to create beautiful surfaces. URAVU has people who come from non-design background but poses high level of skills and idea. They help in developing new products and designs.
Apart from this, various training programs are also conducted by various designers to come up with new designs. Of all the handicrafts of Kerala, the widely prevalent art of weaving bamboo or reed baskets and mats is the simplest in form and most adaptable to usage. These artisans play a crucial role in agriculturalist villages by creating a wide range of items necessary for the occupational requirements of the villagers; these include mats for drying grain, winnowing fans for separating chaff, baskets for storing grain and for drying food grain, pepper corns and coconut kernels etc.
A wide variety of products made in bamboo are, floor mats, beach mats, table mats, table runners, coasters, curtains, furniture, shoulder bags, purses, coin, jewelry, magazine holders, cutlery trays, fruit trays, boxes, bins, baskets, lamps, table watches, masks etc. Few of the famous products made at URAVU are the bamboo pen and bamboo rainmakers.
