Indie end, it matters

Going southA spice box by UravuLocated in Wayanad Kerala Uravu established itself as an indigenous science and technology study centre in 1996 Throughout the years theyrsquove provided employment to rural communities in the region of Thrikkaipetta The organisation specialises in creating bamboobased products that are up for grabs on their websiteTony PaulldquoWayanad being a tribaldominant district the initial idea was to protect and promote traditional systems We began training programmes that were bamboobased but soon those who attended these programmes ended up staying with us permanently They were women from economically tougher situations and the region being predominantly agriculturebased back then it was toughrdquo says CEO Tony Paul Although the pandemic has been challenging for business through their Green Kits campaign last year they managed to stay afloatLog on to uravuinBamboo goodnessZogam Bamboo Works based in Manipur works with bamboo focusing on naturally made products They make products like pens decorative items mobile handset stands and more recently bamboo tiffin boxes Founder V Ginkhanpau started the venture after having undergone training in this field in the North East ldquoWe focus on highquality craftsmanship using locally available resourcesrdquo he says For Zogam involving local craftsmanship is an important aspect of business ldquoIndependent small businesses like ours need support as we believe in the maximum use of local resources promoting local talent and increasing livelihood opportunities of rural artisans and farmersrdquo says Zogam representative Golan NaulakLog on to ZogamA tiffin box made by Zogam Bamboo WorksBamboo Works on FacebookMithila makeoverMadhubani art has been around for ages and Nepalbased handicraft store Mithila House aims to capture the essence of that craft through authentic handmade artwork lamps and other artefacts Their website showcases a variety of their work that can be bought online and delivered to your doorstepLog on to mithilahousecomKeeping traditions aliveJharkhandbased textile company Johargram along with Srijan Handicrafts has come up with a unique way to preserve the cultural and traditional costumes and outerwear of the tribes of the region mdash through handmade dolls Many of these dolls depict scenes from daily lives of the tribes in the region and showcase costumes from indigenous dance formsLog on to johargram on Instagram